Chapter 883: I'm Messing With You, Got a Problem?
"Mr. Nangou, hasn't everyone returned yet?"
Soon after, Yūyū emerged from the women's bath wearing a pure white yukata, droplets of water trickling from her hair. They lingered on her fair neck for a moment before disappearing into the collar's depths.
"They returned, but went out again."
Admiring Yūyū's completely unguarded post-bath appearance, Eiji's mood was instantly lifted.
"Yūyū, let me ask you something—are there places in your Crimson Demon Village that seal away goddesses or evil gods?"
Remembering his earlier conversation with Wolbach, Eiji inquired with Yūyū.
"There are! We happen to have both the 'Sealed Land of the Nameless Goddess' and the 'Tomb of the Sealed Evil God'! They've been in the village since ancient times. It's said that when our Crimson Demon ancestors saw these two sealed sites, they thought they looked really cool—no, I mean they felt a sense of responsibility toward the evil god's seal and believed it necessary to stand guard here. That's why they established Crimson Demon Village nearby!"
Yūyū detailed everything she knew about the village's seals to Eiji.
In summary, the seals had existed for hundreds of years without any abnormalities until seven years ago. For some reason, the seals were broken once. When the villagers went to investigate, they found the seals intact, but discovered devastating battle scars surrounding the area.
Those battle marks were believed to have been left by Explosion Magic.
"And then what happened?"
"And then... well, one year ago, the seals were destroyed."
Yūyū suddenly hesitated. She rubbed her nose, looking guilty, and spoke in a small voice.
What?
Why do you look so guilty?
"Could it be related to you?"
Eiji looked at Yūyū suspiciously. Who would have thought that you, Yūyū, with your honest appearance, would also be such a troublemaker?
"Of course not! I just wanted to help with good intentions, but then Megumin suddenly used Explosion Magic! We only realized afterward that the seals had been broken by the Explosion Magic..."
Yūyū poked her fingers together.
At that time, many Magical Creatures had appeared. Megumin had been saving up skill points to learn Explosion Magic. Not wanting Megumin to stray from her dream, Yūyū had instinctively allocated points to intermediate magic. Because of this, it wasn't until recently that she finally learned advanced magic—she had also been saving skill points for advanced magic back then, but wasting them on intermediate magic delayed her progress by a full year.
Just as she was about to cast intermediate magic to repel the enemies, Megumin suddenly jumped out, chanted Explosion Magic, and drove back the Magical Creatures. She should have needed four more skill points, but somehow used it unexpectedly.
Yūyū was left bewildered for a long time, feeling her sacrifice had been completely worthless, which made her withdraw into herself for several days.
It was during that battle that Megumin accidentally destroyed the sealed site.
Although it was for self-defense, the frightened duo didn't dare tell the villagers the truth. They lied, claiming the seals had been shattered by the Magical Creatures, which reportedly sparked a wave of hunting powerful Magical Creatures in the village.
"I see."
Eiji let out a long sigh.
Wolbach couldn't find her other half precisely because Megumin blew up the seal—something that should have been her task, but someone else beat her to it.
"..."
"..."
"So that thing was the other half!"
...
By the time Kazuma and the others returned to the inn, it was already night.
The trio, who had been out investigating all day, collapsed sprawled on the floor the moment they entered the inn.
"Bo... Boss... We're back..."
Kazuma looked completely burnt out, as if he might drop dead at any moment, and weakly stretched a hand toward Eiji.
"We found out... There really was a brown-haired muscular man... entering and leaving the hot springs..."
"Oh."
Eiji replied coldly.
He had changed into that expensive magic robe, making him appear much more refined.
Beside him, Yunyun and Darkness were already equipped with their weapons and staffs.
All three of them looked fully prepared for action, leaving Kazuma's group utterly confused.
"Boss, where are you all going?"
"To capture a Demon Lord Army executive."
"?"
"We already know where he's hiding."
"??"
"We deduced his location this afternoon."
"???"
Kazuma's eyes widened in shock, while Megumin and Aqua wore equally incredulous expressions.
"Then what was the point of us running around outside all day?"
"There was never any point to begin with."
Eiji said with complete indifference.
"I deliberately made you run around outside to help you understand how hard it is to earn money!"
"Boss, you tricked us!"
Kazuma finally snapped out of it, glaring at Eiji indignantly.
"So what if I did? Got a problem with that?"
Eiji bared a ferocious grin and raised his fist, large as a sandbag.
"N-no problem at all..."
Kazuma immediately backed down.
Aqua watched Eiji's fist with a terrified expression.
"Why are you both so spineless? Can't you be strong-willed like me!"
Megumin glared at them with disappointment, firmly refusing to bow to such tyrannical forces!
"Three hundred million."
"Oh my, exercising is so beneficial for one's health!"
Megumin immediately dropped to her knees, a cheerful smile spreading across her face.
Eiji rolled his eyes.
These three shameless good-for-nothings!
His gaze fell on Megumin's chest, where the little black cat still clung to her collar. Noticing his stare, its bright yellow cat eyes looked back curiously.
"What are you trying to do?"
Megumin covered her chest protectively with a panicked expression.
"I'm warning you, I don't sell my body!"
"With a figure like yours, I wouldn't want you even if you were for sale."
Eiji sneered.
"Wait, that was really hurtful! I challenge you to a duel! I'll make you taste the power of Explosion Magic! Once I master Explosion Magic, my figure will definitely become outstanding too!"
"What does Explosion Magic have to do with your figure?"
"Big Sister said if I learn Explosion Magic, I can become just like her!"
"That makes no sense... Anyway, let's move out. We're going to capture that Demon Lord Army executive!"
Eiji ignored Megumin's pestering and headed out with Yunyun and Darkness.
"Hold on! That slime-not-slime creature dared to target my beloved followers! I'll never forgive him! I'm coming too!"
Aqua scrambled up from the floor, dusted off her butt, and roared as she followed after them.
"The title of Cadre Killer is calling out to me!"
Megumin also scrambled to her feet, her crimson eyes blazing with fiery determination!
"Am I the only one who's genuinely exhausted?"
Kazuma stared dumbfounded at his two teammates.
I can't believe you two veterans would even fake being completely worn out!
"Well, you're still only level 13! Never mind Aqua for now, but my level has long surpassed 20!"
Megumin shot him a triumphant glance before lowering her head.
"Come on, I'll help you over there. Hurry up!"