Chapter 888: That Was Probably Me Messing With You
While the hot springs hadn't completely cooled down yet, everyone spent a few more days enjoying themselves in Alcanretia.
However, Aqua and the others weren't really in high spirits. Not only had they failed to get the bounty, but they also ended up owing Eiji a huge debt.
While soaking in the hot springs, Eiji tried to look for Wolbach's traces but couldn't find her anywhere.
Thinking about it afterward, Wolbach had probably already decided to leave when she learned Hans was going to destroy the hot springs. Since this place would eventually be destroyed, it could no longer be used for hot spring therapy, making it pointless to stay.
Whether they'd see Wolbach again would depend on fate.
Eiji didn't pay it much mind either, temporarily focusing his attention on Yunyun and Darkness. Things with Darkness were basically settled—once you knew the right approach, this woman was really easy to win over. Yunyun, however, was more troublesome. For some reason, she was always with Megumin, leaving Eiji no opportunity to make his move.
After several days, once everyone had enjoyed themselves to the fullest, they returned to Axel.
Having taken this trip, Kazuma finally found some motivation. During the day, he went out with Megumin and the others to hunt monsters, and his level gradually began to rise. Another undeniable reason for Kazuma's newfound effort was that Megumin had already reached level 30 after killing Hans.
"Hey, are you planning to live here or what? Do you really not intend to leave?"
Eiji lounged lazily on the sofa, and Megumin, unable to stand his idle appearance, came over to scold him.
After returning from Alcanretia, Eiji had been staying in this villa without any intention of leaving.
Moreover, he did nothing all day, having others wait on him hand and foot, which Megumin found particularly irritating.
"Megumin, you've got some nerve?"
Eiji sat up with a huff, looking at her strangely.
"Hmph! The Crimson Demons never know fear! Whatever tricks you have, bring them on!"
Megumin proudly lifted her chin, her face showing no trace of fear.
Having stayed here for so many days, Eiji had learned that the Crimson Demons were famously eccentric.
If you picked a fight with them, they would never let it slide and would always retaliate on the spot.
If you dared mock their name, they'd challenge you to a duel.
"You two are really alike."
Darkness, passing by, looked at the two and suddenly sighed with emotion.
"Where?!"
Megumin roared.
"Are you blind?"
Eiji asked in surprise.
"Mmm~!"
Darkness suddenly had one of her episodes, panting heavily for a moment before returning to normal.
"Think about it—if someone made you suffer a loss, how would you feel?"
"Retaliate! No one gets to make the Crimson Demons suffer for free!"
"Revenge! Anyone who dares make me suffer, I'll take it out on their whole family!"
The two said in unison.
Then they looked at each other and fell silent.
Well, in that regard, they really were quite similar.
"Speaking of which, Yunyun asked me something. She said, 'Mr. Nangou really isn't from the Crimson Demon clan, is he?'"
Darkness imitated Yunyun's way of speaking.
"She seemed to think you have a lot of the same flaws as the Crimson Demons."
"That's impossible."
Eiji confidently patted his chest.
"How could someone as pure, upright, immune to temptation, and honest as me possibly be from the Crimson Demon Clan?"
"Hey, you weird couple! If you have any complaints about the Crimson Demon Clan, I'm all ears!"
Megumin instantly bristled, extending her claws as if ready to scratch them to death.
"To be honest, as a complete bystander, I think Darkness's statement about the Crimson Demon Clan having many flaws is absolutely correct!"
Eiji pondered seriously.
"I'll get you for this!"
Megumin roared as she charged at him.
"Stop playing around, it's time for dinner."
Darkness sighed at the two as she placed the final dish on the dining table.
"Go call Kazuma and Aqua over."
A few minutes later, everyone had gathered around the dining table.
"Speaking of which, why are you still here mooching meals?"
Aqua suddenly remembered when she saw Eiji.
"Our villa doesn't welcome freeloaders, so please leave! Though if you're willing to pay rent, that's another story. How about 10,000 per day? Of course, that's just for accommodation. There's also food expenses, sleeping-with-Darkness fees, and such. Even if I charge you 1,000,000 per day, it's pretty cheap, right?"
"Hey, Aqua! Don't make it sound like I'm selling myself! And am I really worth less than 990,000?"
"Well done, Aqua!"
Ignoring Darkness's wail, Megumin gave Aqua a thumbs-up.
She had wanted to bring this up with Eiji earlier, but Darkness had diverted the conversation.
Kazuma ate his dinner leisurely. Being convinced of his own brilliance, he could already see how this extortion attempt would end.
"Holy shit, boss! What are you playing?"
Kazuma exclaimed. The term "holy shit" was something the boss had taught him, reportedly having incredibly rich meanings—usable for surprise, admiration, anger, questioning, praise, and more!
"A game!"
Eiji raised the student handbook in his hand, making Kazuma's eyes glow green with envy.
"But you said it couldn't be charged and would be unusable in the future!"
"Did I say that?"
"You definitely did!"
Kazuma was absolutely certain. He still remembered how heartbroken he felt back then.
"Oh, then I must have been messing with you."
Eiji thought for a moment before responding.
He had returned to the Demon King's Castle and had a demon who knew basic magic help him recharge it. Apparently, it took two days and two nights. That demon walked out with dead eyes in the end. When Eiji happily said he'd look for him next time, the demon burst into tears—must have been moved that the Demon King personally gave him a task!
Kazuma made a face like he'd eaten something disgusting and was momentarily speechless.
"Hey, don't change the subject! We're discussing your rent payment right now!"
Aqua slammed the table repeatedly, glaring sternly at Eiji.
"That's right! As long as you're willing to pay rent, we'll allow you to stay here and sleep with Darkness at night!"
Megumin chimed in from the side. She'd been wanting to buy a powerful magic wand for ages but could never save up enough money!
"I recall you all owe me 300 million in total."
As soon as Eiji said this,
Both Aqua and Megumin shrank back nervously.
After all, Eiji had covered the compensation for the Axis Cult hot springs incident. He hadn't even used the Demon King's Castle funds, just his own monster-hunting earnings to cover the amount.
"That's... that's a completely different matter! I'll owe you your money, but the rent still has to be paid!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"If I wanted to, I could buy this villa tomorrow."
"Stop! Please don't! The weather is still quite cold—if I have nowhere to live, I'll freeze to death!"
Aqua instantly dropped to her knees.
"Yes, yes! We're completely broke right now, we can't even afford to stay at an inn!"
Meanwhile, Megumin broke down in tears.