Chapter 875: Useless Flesh
"Don't know!"
Megumin glared coldly at the two people who had reached an agreement, her tone sharp.
Kazuma was one thing—his true nature was known to everyone—but she never expected that seemingly respectable Mr. Nangou would be this kind of person too!
Poor Darkness!
The first time she gets along well with a man, she unfortunately encounters someone like this!
No, wait... given Darkness's personality, she might actually be happy to end up like this.
Megumin suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
"Well, if that's the case, we'll just have to go and see!"
"The boss is right!"
The two exchanged glances and chuckled slyly.
They had reached a consensus on going to the hot springs.
"By the way, Megumin, where did you say those hot springs are?"
Eiji casually asked Megumin.
"Arcanretia, a hot spring city northwest of Axel. It's quite famous as a tourist spot, don't you know it?"
"Oh, that place! Of course I know it!"
Megumin gave him a strange look. The hot spring city was very famous, with many tourists coming from all over the continent every year. Eiji nodded as if suddenly understanding.
Arcanretia? Where was that?
The question popped into Eiji's mind. He hadn't really looked into which cities were famous in this world, but the name sounded familiar, like he'd heard it somewhere before. Where was it again?
"Ahem!"
Suddenly, a voice full of determination called out from the entrance.
"Is-is-is-is there anyone here?!"
Was she nervous? Why was she stuttering?
"That voice?"
Megumin immediately reacted, springing up from her chair.
Her expression changed several times, as if she was very surprised, then she hurried toward the entrance.
"Yunyun? Why are you here?"
"Megumin? Why are you coming from inside?"
Hearing the conversation outside, Eiji quickly stood up and went out.
"Well, if it isn't Yunyun! Haven't seen you in a few days!Eiji smiled warmly and took the initiative to walk toward the girl at the door.
The girl had the same black hair and red eyes as Megumin, wearing a magic robe with a cutout at the chest. Her features were elegant and dignified, and though she was only about thirteen or fourteen years old, her graceful figure could rival Darkness's!
"Great! Mr. Nangou, you really do live here!"
Seeing Eiji come out, Yunyun immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Who knew how much courage it had taken for her to knock on the door? The moment she saw Eiji, she was overjoyed.
"You know each other?"
Megumin looked suspiciously between the two.
"You know each other too?"
Eiji looked back and forth between her and Yunyun.
They proceeded to exchange information.
Megumin and Yunyun were both from the Crimson Demon Clan and had known each other since childhood. They were classmates at Crimson Demon Village Elementary School and had a very good relationship.
That said, the Crimson Demon Clan only had about two hundred people, with only about ten or so per grade.
They grew up together in Crimson Demon Village, learning magic together. They were best friends and eternal rivals—according to Yunyun.
"Not the best, just that we're always together for certain reasons. Personally, I'm not really willing."
Megumin said these heartless words without changing her expression.
"Really?! Was thinking we're good friends just my wishful thinking?!"
Yunyun instantly broke down, faint mist appearing in her eyes.
"Can't you fix this weak personality of crying at the drop of a hat? This is exactly why you can never make friends! And why you're always being played for a fool!"
The corner of Megumin's mouth twitched as she shouted angrily at Yunyun.
"I don't cry that easily! It's just that you said such things, Megumin! You know perfectly well I don't have many friends!"
"No, you're definitely a crybaby who tears up over everything!"
"That's too harsh! Don't I have any good qualities?!"
Before Eiji could react, the two were already arguing.
"I see now!"
Eiji looked at each of them and suddenly understood everything.
"I thought Darkness was the mom of your party, but it turns out Megumin is the real mom!"
Seeing how she'd drag Kazuma out on quests when he became a shut-in, suggest mood-changing activities when he remained unmoved, and show such frustration at Yunyun's weak personality - this combination of ambition and nurturing clearly made Megumin the true mother of this party!
"Who's a mom! I'm only twelve!"
Megumin was startled and angrily refuted this.
"This woman here is only one year older than me! Damn it, why is she so much bigger with just one year difference? Are you looking down on me?!"
Megumin slapped Yunyun's chest fiercely, her eyes burning with hatred.
"S-stop that! No matter how much you slap, your chest won't get any bigger!"
Yunyun's face turned red as she unintentionally made an extremely offensive remark.
"Looking for a fight, are you?! Fine, let's duel! One of us must fall today!"
Megumin flew into a rage, forming her hands into claws and grabbing fiercely at Yunyun's chest.
Why was she still flat-chested at twelve while Yunyun at thirteen was almost as big as Darkness?!
Intense jealousy burned in her heart!
"I came here today for a reason!"
Yunyun, startled, quickly escaped from Megumin's devilish claws.
"I didn't know Megumin lived here either. I don't mind dueling - rather, after losing hundreds of times, I'd love to win against you for once. But before that, I have business with Mr. Nangou!"
"With me? What is it?"
Eiji, who had been enjoying the beautiful scenery, became curious upon hearing this.
"Did you forget? I came to return your clothes..."
Yunyun looked at Eiji with deeply hurt eyes, as if she'd suffered some fatal blow.
In her arms was a package containing the expensive magic robe Eiji had worn when leaving the Demon King's Castle.
She had washed it the same night she returned to the inn, eagerly anticipating meeting Eiji the next day. She was determined to use this opportunity to become good friends with him!
But she waited at the inn all day without seeing even a glimpse of Eiji, nearly losing all hope.
Today, unable to bear it any longer, she left the inn and, after learning Eiji had been staying at this villa for the past two days, spent two whole hours gathering her courage before coming to knock on the door.
"Oh, how could I forget? I've just been really busy these past couple days and couldn't find the time!"
Eiji flatly denied it.
This was a lie!
After making progress with Darkness these past two days, he had genuinely forgotten about Yuuma waiting for their encounter.
From a pure bystander's perspective: what a scumbag!
"By the way, we were just discussing going to Alcanretia for hot springs. Would you like to join us?"
Eiji clapped his hands together and made the suggestion.