Hearing Megumin's words, Eriri gave her a meaningful glance but didn't explain further.
It still wasn't the right time to reveal her true identity. Once their week-long adventurer life ended, Eriri planned to disclose everything at once.
She couldn't help but wonder—what kind of expression would Megumin make then?
No longer paying attention to Aqua's antics, Eriri led the group toward Axel's city gates.
...
The Adventurers Guild was quiet. Since it wasn't mealtime yet, and this hour was the prime time for adventurers to be out on quests, there weren't many people inside.
The atmosphere was much the same as when Eriri and the others had come in the morning.
Walking up to Luna's counter, Eriri stated their purpose.
"Miss Luna, we're here to submit our quest."
"Oh my, Lady Eriri, welcome. Please present your adventurer cards, and I'll verify them."
"Just mine will do. You don't need to check the others."
With that, Eriri handed over her card.
Luna didn't object. She lowered her head and examined it carefully.
When her eyes landed on the number of Giant Golems slain, her mouth dropped open in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
"T-this… 156 Golems?! In just a single afternoon—how is that even possible?"
Eriri only smiled faintly, giving no answer.
Realizing she had overstepped, Luna quickly adjusted her demeanor, though her eyes grew even more reverent as she looked at Eriri.
"Quest confirmed. As expected of Lady Eriri. To complete such a difficult commission on your very first day as an adventurer is truly remarkable!"
After offering her compliments, Luna returned the card.
"The reward for this quest is five million Eris. Please wait a moment."
She disappeared into the back of the counter. When she returned, she carried a tray piled high with golden coins.
"Here is five million Eris. Please accept it."
But Eriri didn't reach for the tray. Instead, she turned toward Megumin, who was already staring at the coins with shining eyes.
"Megumin, you keep this five million Eris."
Her crimson eyes widened in disbelief. "You're giving all five million to me?"
"That's right. It's yours. But from now on, you'll be in charge of our daily expenses."
Eriri had no intention of keeping the money. After all, in just over a week, she and the others would be leaving this world. Better to hand it over to Megumin and let her enjoy the feeling of being rich.
As for Darkness, she was already wealthy. This small sum meant nothing to her.
"No problem, leave it to me!"
Megumin nodded vigorously, beaming as she eagerly pulled out her empty coin pouch and began stuffing it full of gold.
While Megumin was busy with the money, Eriri turned back to Luna.
"Miss Luna, by the way—are there any subjugation commissions for One-Shot Rabbits?"
"There actually is. A routine commission to slay One-Shot Rabbits was just posted today. The reward is ten thousand Eris per rabbit."
"I see. Perfect. We happened to defeat quite a number of them earlier. Please calculate the reward for us."
Eriri smiled. Even though it was only ten thousand per rabbit, Ilina and Lilian had slain several thousand of them.
That added up to tens of millions of Eris—an unexpected windfall.
"But… I didn't see any One-Hit Rabbit kills recorded on your card earlier…" Luna said in confusion.
Eriri didn't reply. Instead, she glanced at Ilina and Lilian.
The two girls immediately understood, pulling out their own adventurer cards from their storage rings and handing them to Luna.
Only then did Luna realize the situation. She quickly accepted both cards and began checking them carefully.
When Luna checked the records on the two cards, she gasped sharply.
Lilian had slain over three thousand, and Ilina more than four thousand. Together, the two had killed nearly eight thousand One-Shot Rabbits.
"Lady Eriri, pardon my bluntness, but… did you raid a One-Hit Rabbit nest?"
Faced with such outrageous numbers, even Luna couldn't resist making a wry comment.
"Can the guild handle receiving so many One-Shot Rabbits?" Eriri asked with a smile.
"Of course," Luna quickly nodded. "But we'll need to verify the corpses first. The reward will be based on the number recovered."
Like Giant Frog subjugations, the One-Hit Rabbit commission also required corpses as proof. However, since One-Shot Rabbits were tougher than frogs and their meat tasted better, they fetched twice the price.
Hearing this, Megumin—who had just stashed away five million Eris—brightened instantly.
She knew they were about to strike it rich. Filthy rich!
"There's no need to trouble the guild with recovery. We already brought the corpses along." Eriri said lightly.
"You brought them? Do you mean you left them outside the guild?" Luna asked in surprise. After all, she hadn't seen any corpses nearby. How could they possibly transport thousands of bodies?
"No, the corpses are right here with us. Find me a place with enough space, and I'll show you."
"…Very well."
Though puzzled, Luna knew better than to press further. She obediently led Eriri into the guild's back rooms and into a massive warehouse.
Inside were piles of Giant Frog corpses and other edible monsters.
"Lady Eriri, you may place the One-Shot Rabbits here."
Without a word, Eriri waved her hand. In an instant, mountains of rabbit corpses appeared, filling the warehouse.
The sudden spectacle left Luna's jaw hanging open in shock.
Unbothered, Eriri spoke casually:
"There are 5,255 One-Hit Rabbit corpses here. You may count them if you wish."
Snapping back to herself, Luna swallowed hard. "No need. I trust you."
Her answer pleased Eriri, raising her opinion of the woman.
Without further comment, she followed Luna back to the counter.
"Lady Eriri, since the amount involved is rather large, I'll need some time to prepare the reward. Please wait a while."
With a respectful bow, Luna disappeared behind the counter again to begin arranging more than fifty million Eris in coins.
The moment she left, Megumin, Lilian, and the others immediately crowded around Eriri.
"Eriri, how much are the rabbits worth?!"
By now, Megumin had turned into a complete money-grubber, her crimson eyes fixed eagerly on Eriri.
"Not much. Just over fifty million Eris," Eriri said with a smile, reaching out to gently close Megumin's gaping mouth by pressing up her dainty chin.
Though Eriri could conjure limitless money with a thought, earning it through commissions had its own kind of amusement.
Megumin snapped out of her daze, her expression full of anticipation.
"Eriri, will you let me manage this fifty million too?!"
"That's right. You'll be the one to receive it later."
At her confirmation, Megumin's breathing grew heavy with excitement.
The most money she had ever handled before was the ten million Eris she got from that perverted big sister, Cecily. And she had spent all of it immediately as funds for subjugating a high-ranking demon.
This time, the amount was more than five times greater than before—and it would all fall into her hands. How could Megumin not feel thrilled?
Before long, Luna returned, carrying a tray laden with over fifty million Eris.
Before she could even speak, the impatient Megumin rushed forward, snatching the tray straight from her hands.
Luna said nothing. After all, she had already seen Eriri hand the earlier five million directly to Megumin. It was only natural for her to take the fifty million too.
Megumin set the tray on the counter, pulled out another coin pouch, and began happily shoveling all the coins inside.
"Hehehe, my money—all mine!"
...
Since dinner was still an hour or two away, once the rewards were settled, Eriri and the others left the guild.
"Megumin, where are you living right now?" Eriri asked as they stepped outside.
"I'm staying at an inn. Eriri, where are you living?"
Although Megumin was still somewhat dizzy with delight from receiving nearly sixty million Eris, she was much calmer now than when she first got the money.
"We have a mansion in the outskirts. From today, move in with us."
"Sure!" Megumin nodded eagerly. A free place to live was too good to refuse—especially if it meant staying with Eriri and the others. Even if the mansion's conditions were worse than her inn, she wouldn't care.
"Alright, then let's head to your inn first and bring your belongings."
"Mm-hmm! Chomusuke is still at home waiting for me. If I move, I have to bring her too."
"Chomusuke?" Lilian tilted her head curiously.
"Hmph! Chomusuke is the familiar of Megumin, the greatest mage of the Crimson Demon Clan!"
With a dramatic flourish of her cloak, Megumin struck what she thought was a cool chuunibyou pose. Lilian, slightly infected by her energy, clapped and cheered.
"As expected of Megumin! Even your familiar must be amazing. I can't wait to see her!"
...
Megumin's inn wasn't far from the guild. In just a few minutes, Eriri and the group followed her to the second floor of the inn.
Her room was tiny and simple: just a bed, a small table with chairs, and a nightstand.
On the bed lay a small black cat, with wings sprouting from its back and a red cross-shaped mark on its forehead, dozing peacefully.
Sensing their arrival, the cat slowly opened its eyes. Spotting Megumin, it let out a soft meow.
"So cute!" Lilian's eyes sparkled as she looked at the little cat.
"Megumin, is this your familiar, Chomusuke?"
"That's right!" Megumin nodded proudly, then spread her arms toward the cat. "Chomusuke, come here!"
At her call, the cat bounded across the bed, leapt into the air, and landed neatly in her arms.
Watching the obedient Chomusuke nestled in Megumin's embrace, Lilian couldn't contain herself.
"Megumin, let me hold Chomusuke too!"
Seeing her eager eyes, Megumin didn't refuse. She carefully lifted Chomusuke and placed her into Lilian's waiting arms.
Hugging the soft, warm body of the little cat, Lilian's face lit up with pure joy.
Eriri watched the three of them—Lilian, Megumin, and Chomusuke—with a gentle smile, saying nothing.
She, of course, knew Chomusuke's true identity.
The cat was in fact the beast-half of Wolbach, the goddess who ruled over evil gods, violence, and sloth—specifically, her violent aspect.
Her true form was a giant black beast, now sealed into this tiny cat shape.
Wolbach's human half was the very one who had led Megumin onto the path of Explosion Magic—a figure Megumin had always wanted to prove her mastery to.
As for Chomusuke, Eriri had no intention of interfering. Whether she would one day merge back with her human half would depend on the flow of fate.
Of course, Eriri held no hostility toward Chomusuke. After all, her true body was female—and a stunning beauty at that.
There was no reason for Eriri to reject her presence.
—
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