Epilogue

That night.

After taking our time to do our great deed, we split the rewards for the griffon quest amongst others, feasted at the guild and didn't return until now.

Komekko fell asleep halfway home from being too full, so Darkness piggybacked her for the remainder of the way. She's currently sleeping on Megumin's bed.

Hiking in addition to the intense battle.

While it was tiring, in the end we enjoyed that rare feeling of huge accomplishment.

Slipping under the sheets, I was about close my eyes and embrace that alcohol-fueled good night's sleep when—

"Kazuma, are you awake? If you are, may I interrupt for a second?"

Megumin's voice came from the door.

"I'm still awake; about to sleep, though."

"No… It took massive effort for me to visit, don't be so quick to fall asleep!"

Megumin opened the door and entered as she complained.

I didn't sit up from the bed but poked only my head out instead.

"What are you here for this late in the night? Komekko rarely stays over, are you sure you don't want to accompany her? Although I haven't a clue when your parents will come pick her up, she can't stay here forever, can she?"

Though personally I see no problem in letting her live here.

Not that I want to make moves on a loli.

The vivid memories of my time with Iris at the capital are still on my mind.

Right, Iris told me to write letters to her when I remember what had happened.

Even if I do head to the guild tomorrow, I'd only find quests like toad killing. So, I should better write that letter.

As I planned mentally, Megumin started quietly giggling.

"No, um… Actually, Yunyun came to me just a while ago."

It has indeed been a few days since we last saw that girl; where did she go?

Funifura and Dodonko also said they couldn't find her anywhere; could she really have gone into "hiding"?

"And then? What happened to Yunyun? Did she come to play with Komekko?"

"Nope. She was here to pass a message from the Crimson Demon village, that the Demon Army occupying the village has been successfully repelled."

What a battleborne race.

As expected of the strongest mage clan, the Crimson Magic clan.

It's only been a few days. Couldn't they reserve their potential for something more practical?

"Isn't that good news? Although, that would also mean…"

"That's right, I heard that my mother will be picking up Komekko tomorrow."

Megumin showed a lonely smile.

"All the more reasons you should sleep by her side tonight; are you sure you would rather be here?"

"It's fine, no problem. She's a tough child. Or rather, I'm afraid I'm the one who gets hurt more if I stayed with her any longer."

Speaking of which, this girl really is a bit of a siscon.

Then, Megumin lowered her head.

"Kazuma, thanks for all your help these past few days, I'm extremely grateful."

She suddenly thanked me.

"Don't be such a stranger. Mhm, even though I nearly lost something precious due to my laziness and degeneracy, it makes me happy knowing that everything's like when it started."

I smiled wryly as I spoke. Megumin also giggled in return.

"Indeed, the battle we had today felt akin to the ones we fought long ago… Say, this counts as a sign of growth, right?"

Darkness had asked the same question on our way back to the guild; however, I didn't agree with the phrasing.

Frankly, since I last leveled up, my stats have been rising even more slowly.

It's possible that my stats are close to being maxed out—a reality that I'm not too keen to accept.

There are no cheats here, so it really is no joking matter when I get stuck with the same stats regardless of my level.

Not understanding my pain and sorrow, Megumin cheerfully chatted with me instead.

"By the way, do you still remember? That time when we first met?"

She asked in a strongly sentimental tone.

"Of course I do; you told me a confusing and awkward name as complete strangers, then abruptly fell to the floor. On top of that, the next thing to come out of your mouth was something about not having eaten for three darn days. Who in the world can forget an experience like that?"

"Oi, how many times do I have to say this: if you have a problem with my name then tell it to my face."

Seeing the red glow in Megumin's eyes as she approached me, I, too, felt a wave of nostalgia as the memories of this banter we used to share returned.

It could be that my face did a poor job hiding that thought, or it could be that Megumin isn't really mad at me… But she chuckled. And so did I…

"Kazuma, I actually knew you before then."

Megumin suddenly said something important like that.

"Perhaps Kazuma and Aqua don't know about this, but I was in fact familiar with the two of you before I joined the party."

"Haw."

Implying that Aqua and I stood out that much?

"...Let me explain; it's because of all the fuss you two had made. Getting in trouble at every turn, raging and crying all the time. Be it working at the guild vineyard, working at the grocery; you two managed to get yelled at everywhere. And that's how I memorized you two."

"Oi. So you're saying that we left basically no good impressions?"

Megumin then laughed happily.

"However, despite everything, the two of you always seemed to be enjoying yourselves. That was the real reason I chose your party; at the time, I was thinking of all the fun I could also be having if I adventured with you."

Since she put it that way, I could no longer stay mad.

"Although, if someone told me at the time that 'I would take a liking to Kazuma', there's not a chance that I would have believed them either."

"Huh? Was my first impression that bad? It's quite hurtful of you to describe me that way."

She again giggled happily.

"Kazuma Kazuma,"

"What now? I'm getting very sleepy, so could you stop bothering me? The alcohol is really taking a toll on my ability to stay awake."

In response to my little tantrum, she—

"It's about time for us to advance our relationship to somewhere between friends and lovers."

—flung me a fastball out of the blue.