May We Extend a Loving Hand to This Orphanage!

1

The next morning… Given the night's events, I had been way too restless to get any sleep.

"G-good morning, Kazuma… You're up early…" Darkness yawned as she came into the living room. She looked like she hadn't gotten any sleep, either. I was downstairs because I had decided to get a start on breakfast.

"I'm not up early. Thanks to you, I never got to sleep. First Megumin, now you. Honestly, do you people get your kicks teasing guys or something? Do you really love me? Or do you just love tormenting me?"

"H-how can you say that…?! No, forget it. I'm sorry about last night. I don't know what came over me. To find myself on the receiving end of so much kindness from a younger woman like Megumin… I'm a failure as a noble… I wish you would forget all about it…" She looked at the ground as if deeply regretful.

"How the hell am I supposed to forget about it?! An older noblewoman handcuffed me, practically stripped me half-naked, and stole my first kiss. How often does that happen to a guy?"

"That's not what I meant! Er, although I'd appreciate if you would forget that stuff, too!"

Blushing furiously, Darkness pounded the table, causing the uncharacteristically early-rising Aqua to say, "What are you so excited about this early in the morning? Is it because you got to spend the night with this guy?

You can't get carried away, Darkness. I know your sex drive is a lost cause, but you should have more respect for yourself."

"You sure know how to hurt a guy, Aqua. But hey, I know how this goes.

Megumin and Darkness are going to tear each other apart over me. You'll get all lonely because you feel left out, and it'll finally cause you to realize how you really feel," I said around a mouthful of toast.

"You mean I'll realize I should have forced you to reform your life sooner, you dumb NEET?"

"No, I don't! I mean you'll see that the guy you always thought was merely your housemate is actually someone you have very special feelings for. But I'm sorry, Aqua. You're the one person I absolutely refuse to recognize as a member of the opposite sex. I feel the same way about you as I do about Emperor Zel or Chomusuke."

"Now, hold it right there. Why do I feel like I just got shot down?"

It was one of our usual dumb arguments, and first thing in the morning, too.

Darkness, dressed like a schoolteacher for some reason, interjected, "Listen, you two, I'm going to be late coming home tonight. Go ahead and have dinner without me. I'll be spending the night at my family's house…" She sounded weirdly reluctant.

What was with her mood? Was she really that bothered about what had happened last night? I mean, I had pretty much turned her down. I would have been surprised if it didn't bother her… …We had kissed. That had to be it. In the past, we'd snuggled up under the covers and held hands and stuff, but kissing was further than we'd ever gone before.

So why did this still feel like a middle-school romance to me?

At the same time, this also meant I was no longer your average, everyday virgin.

"What's with you, Kazuma? Your face is even more reprehensible than usual," Aqua said, truly repulsed. How rude.

"Blind as ever, Aqua. Take a good look. This is the face of a man who's popular with the ladies."

"Oh, I'll bet. Especially that cowlick on the back of your head."

Hey, come to think of it— "If you've got some time to kill, wanna go to the Adventurers Guild? You don't have anything else to do, right?" I really wanted to go to the Guild. Then I could brag about how I had kissed someone and finally become an adult. I wouldn't give any details as to the "who," of course.

"Please don't treat me like some layabout. Today, I'm going to take Emperor Zel outside of town and hunt monsters. I want him to get some experience points while he's young. If I train him in heroism now, by this time next year, it'll be good-bye, Demon King's castle!"

"The only thing I see in your future is that chick getting eaten by a frog.

Where's Megumin anyway?"

"She left really early. I don't know where she went. She said she wanted to talk to Yunyun about some kind of womanly victory."

Great minds think alike, I guess. I wasn't so sure about victory, though. We weren't even officially lovers yet, right? And besides, we weren't supposed to tell Aqua or Darkness. How was Yunyun okay?

After fretting about my assessment for a moment, Aqua lifted Zel, who was sitting in her hands, until she was eye to eye with him and said, "You're right— at a time like this, we should go to the Guild. I think I will go with you, Kazuma. I can grab someone who looks like they've got some time to kill and get them to help me level the Emperor up."

"I don't think anyone's going to be crazy enough to help you level up your chick… But whatever, let's hit the Guild!"

When we arrived, we discovered that the mood had changed completely.

"We need another spell-caster for a frog hunt!"

"We're short two members for our vanguard! Anyone with metallic armor who fits the bill?!"

"Goblins have been sighted near the forest! Everyone's favorite: a nice, plump reward for some goblin hunting! We're looking for more people than usual just in case there's a Beginner's Bane around! Anyone with money troubles, come talk to us!"

"If there's anyone who thinks frog hunting sounds too difficult, how about a dungeon run with me? My plan is to skirt any combat and go right for the treasure chests! Thieves are especially welcome! Reward to be discussed!"

All these adventurers, whom I normally would have expected to find lounging around the Guild bar, were full of spirit today. It reminded me of the time Komekko had fired everyone up with her praise. I collared an adventurer I knew: a guy with a scar on his nose. "Hey, what's going on here? Why's everyone working so hard? This isn't like you guys."

If everyone was actually doing their jobs, then I couldn't laze around all day anymore. I felt my pulse quicken, like when I had an exam coming and I saw everyone else studying diligently.

"Oh hey, Kazuma. Hell, you oughta know. Taxes, my man, taxes. Everyone here got dragged in by those tax collectors yesterday. They got half their funds taken away. You better believe they're all feeling light in the pocket."

It's true. Adventurers love to spend money. The people here had bought their way into decent lodgings at the inn. They'd already grown used to a certain standard of living, and they didn't want to downgrade. They were all searching desperately for some low-risk, high-reward quest. It looked like there were more than enough people to take out those monsters around town that Darkness and the Guild staff had been worried about.

"Kazuma, Kazuma, with all these people here, I bet someone will help me level up Emperor Zel. They look pretty busy, though…" "I think it depends on how much you're willing to pay. Speaking of which, do you even have any money?"

At that, Aqua thrust Emperor Zel into my hands and took out her purse… "I have this ticket that entitles the bearer to one free confession hearing at the Axis church. Think anyone will work for that?"

"I doubt it. They'd probably tear your ticket up on the spot. Everyone's got cold, hard cash on the brain at the moment."

Still, this was a problem. I'd been eager to find my various drinking buddies and brag to them about how I had thrown wide the gates of adulthood, but… That was when it happened.

"Hey, it's Kazuma! The tax guys told us something interesting! They said the surprise collection was Lalatina's idea!"

I knew the guy shouting at us. He'd spotted me when I walked through the door. He looked pretty pissed about the tax situation. I guess he hadn't gotten away, either.

"Hey, hey, Aqua, Darkness, and I all got chased around just like the rest of you. So why are you complaining to me? From what I hear, the idea behind the collection was to get all you lazy-ass adventurers to go back to work and get some cash in the country's coffers to boot."

He didn't look happy to hear that. "Fine, whatever, so I haven't been workin' much lately. We still cleaned up all those leftover quests, though…" Another nearby adventurer picked up the thread. "Why does the country need our money anyway? What are they doing with our hard-earned cash? I'll tell you what. I've heard the rumors. They say Lalatina's had some little boy hanging around, that she's 'teaching' him something or other."

Now, that was a bombshell.

"That Darkness!" Aqua exclaimed. "Now she's into little boys?! Does her appetite know no bounds?!"

Uh, laying a hand on a kid was one line I knew even Darkness would never cross… Probably… Besides, there was also that single-mindedness she'd shown me last night. I had nearly broken into tears myself, and I was the one turning her down. If I found out she was secretly into little boys on the side, I might wind up in front of Lady Eris again.

Then Aqua shot a glance around. "I think this is my moment, Kazuma. Look at the greed in everyone's eyes." She turned a pleading expression on the room full of adventurers.

"You're one to talk, Aqua. Remember when you dropped your hundred-eris coin in the harbor on your way to buy ice cream and started bawling?"

"Hush, you brigand. If you insist on spreading the worst possible rumors about people, I'll punish you by cursing your sheets to be damp in the morning… But I have more important things to do right now." She returned her attention to the now-silent Guild. "I want you to know that Darkness has been acting funny recently. As her guardian, I want to help her with whatever's on her mind." She held up Emperor Zel, whom she had been clasping to her chest, with pride. "I keep wondering what that girl gets up to. Come on, everyone— don't you want to know what Darkness spends her time doing?"

We were at a small orphanage on the edge of town. Eris parishioners could bring food, and the wealthier people in town could donate items they didn't need. And a train of adventurers, led by Aqua and me, was lined up in front of the establishment.

"Hey, mister, are you sure Darkness is here?"

"Oh, I'm sure, Miss Aqua. I've seen Lalatina around these parts, wearing the sexiest clothing and ogling the children. Believe me, I wouldn't lie to you."

I wasn't so sure about the ogling-children thing, but the part about sexy clothing sounded awfully believable. I steeled myself and prepared to knock on the door… …when I heard a kid's voice on the other side.

"Lady Lalatina, you can't… We're still way too young for this…" The voice sounded like it belonged to a boy who hadn't even hit puberty yet.

He seemed absolutely miserable.

"Don't be silly; there's no time like the present. Besides, it's something you're bound to learn eventually as you grow up. Come on, now—don't be shy…" "B-but, Lady Lalatina…" Hey.

I tried to convince myself that there had been some sort of mistake, but that was definitely Darkness. Forcing myself not to tremble, I pressed my ear to the orphanage door. The other male adventurers gathered around me and did the same. Actually, that wasn't all. More than a few interested female adventurers joined me, too.

"Ha-ha, say what you like, but I know this is what you're really interested in, isn't it? Go ahead—touch it."

Hey, hey, hey!

That sounded a lot like what she'd said when she had me pinned last night!

Dammit, why wasn't there some kind of eavesdropping skill in this world? I really wanted to know what was going on in there!

…No, hold on… It was too soon to give up. I still had my Second Sight skill, so maybe there was a skill that would let you see through walls or something. I would have to ask somebody later.

Someone swallowed audibly. Who was it? Maybe it was me.

"Here, touch it. It's yours now."

"M-mine…?" the boy said hesitantly, but there was a hint of corruption in his voice.

"It's yours," indeed. And after all that stuff she'd said to me last night! Could it be that my shooting her down had caused her to implode…? And what was this prickle in my heart? Was it a touch of jealousy at having Darkness stolen away by someone I didn't even know? And by a younger guy, at that?

No, wait, wasn't this just how any guy felt when a good female friend of his got a boyfriend? I mean, even if he hadn't personally been interested in dating her… "How does it feel?"

"Harder than I expected. And smooth…" I was starting to grasp the situation. What the hell was she getting him to touch anyway? Something smooth and harder than you might expect?

"You can do more than touch it. Take a sniff. How does it smell?"

Damn, even I had never smelled one of those. I was feeling some strange excitement. Was this the pulse-quickening sensation of being cuckolded? I hadn't thought that was my thing, but… "Come on, everyone—aren't you going to go in? I'm sick of just standing here.

I'm heading inside." Aqua, thoroughly unable to read the situation, as usual, reached for the door.

"Aqua, dammit! Wait a—!"

But before I could stop her, she pushed the door open, and we saw… "How do you like it? A brand-new, freshly made book has such a unique smell.

I love the aroma of this ink."

"I agree; I don't dislike this smell, Lady Lalatina…" The scene revealed in the open doorway looked strangely familiar… Yes, it appeared to be a classroom, and Darkness was handing a book to a boy who gratefully inhaled the aroma.

All the adventurers, including me, stood there in a stupor, watching the boy with his new textbook, until Darkness turned around and noticed us.

"H-hey, what are you doing here…?"

That's what I wanted to ask her. Actually, what was she doing here? To me, she was the spitting image of a teacher in a suit handing out textbooks to these poor kids at this orphanage.

"Hey, Darkness, whatcha doin' here? It kinda looks like a school," offered Aqua, still oblivious.

"Er, y-yeah. I remembered Kazuma talking about how some countries have free schools and academies where kids can learn. Ever since then, we've been running a pilot program teaching kids who can't afford tutors at home…" The kids, meanwhile, stared at us adventurers with sparkling eyes. To them, we were probably heroes who did battle with evil monsters. And the looks had the same effect on the adventurers that they'd had coming from Komekko:

Everyone smiled.

"So you've been doing this for a while now, Darkness?" I asked. It would explain why her clothes had looked like they belonged to a schoolteacher…even if the schoolteacher herself was secretly a depraved lunatic.

"Yeah, I have. It's been a while, I guess. As for the clothes I'm always wearing, I gather that they're a schoolteacher's uniform in this one country. After all, one should dress for the job they want, right?"

Whoops, was this another little "gift" from one of my countrymen?

"My father has heard much about educational systems like this throughout his life. He raised enough money to support this experimental school out of the family's finances."

Oh yeah. I seemed to recall Darkness's dad being a top-notch politician or something. I thought someone had told me that the only school in this country was in Crimson Magic Village, but I guess they had already gotten some cues from other Japanese people and had started doing things on their own.

Impressive.

"Honestly, though, I'm not much of a teacher, so I was always too embarrassed for everyone to see me like this…" Darkness blushed and looked at the other adventurers. "Which reminds me, why did you come here?"

Well, to peek in on her, obviously… Okay, even I couldn't say that. And I definitely couldn't say we'd thought maybe she'd been skimming something off our tax payments to purchase young boys for her own enjoyment. Everyone looked away until their eyes settled on me, as if to say I should be the one to do something.

"Well, you know, there was that kerfuffle about the taxes the other day and everything, right? We wanted to know how our tax money was being spent, so we came to see the school! Man, it sure is inspiring to know our money is helping these young kids! Really puts a spring in your step! Right, you guys?"

"Sure does! We always trusted Lalatina!"

"Lalatina knows how to use her name, huh!"

"You're awesome, Lalatina!"

"And adorable, Lalatina!"

"Shut up—stop calling me that! I swear I'll beat you all senseless!" said Darkness, fuming. I couldn't help noticing, though, that the little boy standing beside her clutching his textbook still looked weirdly apologetic. Darkness saw it, too, and crouched down beside him. "What's the matter? Just enjoy your new book."

"B-but I heard it was the adventurers' money that paid for all our food and clothes here, and this book, too…" ...… Silence descended on all the adventurers standing in the room. Darkness smiled gently at the boy. "That's true. They spend their days fighting monsters and protecting all of you. And then they even give up some of the money they make so that children without parents can have food and clothes. So just remember to be grateful to them and cherish that book, too. Okay?"

"…Okay, I will. Thanks, mister!" the boy said to me, smiling, and soon all the kids in the orphanage were showering us with gratitude. Every adventurer present felt a tear come to their eye.

Then Darkness said, "I have to talk with these people, so why don't you all study your books for a while?" And then she motioned us to step outside…

2

"I can't believe you all saw me this way," Darkness said once we were outside.

"Hey, Darkness. Is this orphanage really run with the money you scammed off us?" I asked.

"Don't say 'scammed'—people will get the wrong idea. The tax money we collected from the adventurers is earmarked to help care for adventurers permanently injured on the job, or ones too old to work, and so on. An adventurer's future has always been a pretty tenuous thing. This should provide some security for your post-adventuring years—a pension that will at least help you put food on the table, right?"

"H-huh, okay. But those kids… You told them…" She'd told them this was all thanks to us.

"The costs of their upbringing and education are mostly covered by the Dustiness family, but as embarrassed as I am to admit it, we had some trouble with fundraising. Just a bit. So I did take a little bit of a loan from the money we collected the other day… But don't get the wrong idea, okay?! We're going to pay it back—I swear! So many people were wounded during the cleanup of those leftover quests from before. Paying for their care really set us back…" Man, this was weird. She was the one talking about being embarrassed, but somehow we were the ones who found we couldn't meet her eyes. I shot a glance around and saw everyone else was as red-faced as I was.

(Image)

Finally, Darkness said, "So that's how your tax money is actually being used… Does it sound okay to you…?" She appeared genuinely sorry.

"Uh, look, when we heard you were teaching these little kids, Lalatina—! I mean, if that's how our taxes are helping, then it's fine… Right, guys?"

"Yeah, we were just worried. We know you, Lalatina, and we were afraid you were having some kind of trouble and were trying to handle it all by yourself again!"

"That's so true, and we were totally worried, and then it turned out our dear, sweet Lalatina was working right here all along! Isn't it great?"

"We're all adventurers together. Doesn't even matter that you're a blue blood! Hey, does this place need some crossing guards?"

So many beautiful offers of aid and help. It was downright refreshing to see they'd come this far (even if I wasn't exactly to thank for their personal growth).

Darkness replied, "Thanks, but we don't really need much help at the moment. I appreciate just knowing how you feel about this. As it happens, there's already someone making sure all the kids get to school safely, not only here at the orphanage but the ones commuting from family homes, too. It's the part-timer from that weird magic-item shop." She smiled innocently. "But knowing you're all behind me gives me the strength to persevere. Thank you. I mean it. I thought for sure that tax-collection stunt had poisoned things between us forever…" "Whaddaya sayin', Lalatina?!"

"That's right, Lalatina, give us a little credit!"

"We could never doubt you, Lalatina!"

"I'm really happy to hear that, but please show a little more restraint in using my name…" She scratched a cheek in embarrassment as all the adventurers tried to walk back their attitudes.

Which was the perfect time for Aqua, dense as ever, to start running her mouth. "Just a second, that's not what any of you was saying before we got here. Hey, Darkness, listen! On the way over, Kazuma and all the others were saying—" Several adventurers clapped their hands over her mouth before she could get us all in a lot of trouble. "Hey, what are you doing?! Stop! Stop that!"

she exclaimed, slapping away the hands that tried to grab her.

Hoping to distract Darkness from what was happening with Aqua, I said, "Gee, here I thought you were just some kinky noble, but it turns out you do have a good side. Wish we could see it a little more often. Then maybe you wouldn't be so far behind on your life plan. You could be a happy mommy by now."

"What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not behind on any life plan! I've rejected marriage by my own choice! If I wanted to meet someone, I could! I'd have suitors up to my ears!"

That made one of the adventurers clap their hands. "Oh yeah, Lalatina, I heard you and Kazuma had a kid!"

As Darkness was struggling to absorb that remark, someone else chipped in.

"Oh yeah, I heard that, too! Congratulations, Lalatina!"

"You're gonna have to get out of the habit of playing those weird games with yourself, Lalatina."

"I have to say, though, I'm so glad to see our dear, sweet Lalatina found somebody. She always left something to be desired as a member of the nobility, and I was worried it would cost her her chances!"

"Yeah, I was afraid she'd decide to go live with some monsters or something. I guess I can finally relax."

"And now you're all set for the future, too, Kazuma. At least you'll still be able to eat if you burn through your savings!"

So it was congratulations for us all around. From the grins and smirks, I guessed nobody really meant it. They were mostly teasing Darkness as payback for the other day.

"Argh, I did so much explaining then, and it turns out I didn't get through to you at all!" she shot back, blushing fiercely and totally missing the fact that they were only playing with her.

"Oh, we understand. We understand nobles have their circumstances to think of. It would make perfect sense if you didn't want to acknowledge her."

"Here's hoping we can all publicly celebrate your happy marriage to Kazuma one day!"

"You don't get it, do you?! None of you understands a thing!" Darkness howled.

"So, Kazuma, give us the real story. What went down between you two?"

"This is Kazuma we're talking about. I guarantee the answer is 'nothing.'" "Yeah, Kazuma's famous for one thing, and it's an invincible chicken heart."

Ahhh, that brought back the real reason I'd wanted to go to the Adventurers Guild in the first place.

"All you riffraff who are still virgins and virginettes despite being rough-and-tumble adventurers, bow to me. I'm sure you assumed you could confidently count me among your number for life, but I'm here to tell you you're wrong. For last night, I crossed that line! Didn't I, Darkness?"

"You idiot! What are you talking about?! Who says that?" Maybe she was hoping to throw the others off the scent, but she just ended up digging herself a deeper hole.

"Sh-she admitted it… I can't believe it! Lalatina admitted it!"

"What? No way! Sweet Lalatina, you really did it? Hey, how far did you go?

Tell your big sis every last juicy detail!"

"I was so sure it was a misunderstanding! You can't trust what Aqua says anyway…!"

"Wrong! You're all wrong!!" Darkness blushed furiously, and I took the opportunity to score another hit.

"What are they wrong about? You're the one who held me down and stripped me until I was almost naked. All this on my very first time… And you have the nerve to call me a liar?"

"I already apologized about that!"

"Girls aren't the only ones who feel protective about their first time, you know. It means something to guys, too, and I don't appreciate you treating it like it was an accident!"

"H-hey, that's not what I…! I'm sorry—it was wrong of me! I just went a little crazy… Maybe we can agree to forget it ever happened…" Everyone listening in seemed to think all this was completely serious, and I received looks of admiration and jealousy.

"Hey, a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell," I said. "So I'll leave the rest up to your imaginations."

"Why, you low-down—! We never even—!" Darkness, finally cornered, was about to spill the beans on what had—or hadn't—happened.

"Come to think of it, there was a golden-haired, blue-eyed girl in there who looked a lot like you, Lalatina. Hey, is that your kid?"

The question came from a female adventurer who looked very excited about it. Finally, unable to restrain themselves, the adventurers made to open the door of the orphanage again…!

"Can you guys just stop already…?!" said Darkness, her eyes welling up with tears. Her fists were clenched, and she was ready to throw up her hands.

But when the door opened, we found all those kids who had been so full of life just a few minutes before collapsed on the ground.

3

"Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Have you had another day of living and learning, you mischievous ruffians? I have come to pick you up! Now, anyone who wishes to touch my mask, please line up. No pushing, now… Oh-ho, what's this?"

Crazy laughter announced the arrival to the chaotic orphanage of yet more trouble.

"Hey, what the heck do you think you're doing here? We don't have time to play with you. I'll pretend I didn't see you for today, so get out of here! That alleyway over there is nice and deserted; go do your laughing there. These kids are in danger, and we need to deal with this!" Aqua informed the newcomer. As all the other adventurers rushed around carrying blankets and arranging them so the kids had something to lie on, she stood in the center of the orphanage creating a massive magic circle.

"What in the world is this? My dear, peaceful orphanage brought to its knees… Are you not satisfied until you've caused trouble every place you go?"

"I'll thank you not to assume everything is my fault. These kids just collapsed all of a sudden, and no one knows why, least of all me. You sure you didn't do something to them?"

Vanir scowled and shot back, "Watch what you say, O crisis-bringing woman!

I, with my great popularity among these children, would do no such thing! The only people I would ever curse are my natural enemies: Axis disciples and the likes of you!"

He came over to where I was using Freeze to cool the foreheads of kids with raging fevers and whispered, "This is most troubling, though. To find they've been infected with choleran…" "Vanir, are you saying you know what happened to these kids? What kind of name for a disease is 'choleran' anyway?"

All eyes turned to Vanir.

"These mischievous ragamuffins are infected with choleran," he said. "This is a very unique disease. After it uses the host as a carrier for a certain amount of time, it releases a fast-acting poison, as you see now. My all-seeing eye tells me…that girl there is patient zero." And he pointed right at…Sylphina.

"There are two ways to treat choleran."

Vanir sat cross-legged on the floor inside Aqua's magic circle, which glowed faintly. I guess the circle was giving off healing magic, because the kids looked like they were sleeping a little easier than before.

"For those who aren't the carrier, it's simple enough. Continual application of antidote and healing spells should soon have them feeling like themselves again. However…" He turned to Sylphina, who was slumped in Darkness's arms.

"Simple antidote magic will not be effective for the carrier herself. Healing magic can preserve her strength and vitality in the meantime, but we'll have to whip up a special medicine."

"Where is this special medicine?! How do we make it?!" Darkness demanded, and Vanir held up several fingers.

"There are five ingredients. One, the onion of a Duxion. Two, a mandrake root. Three, a ghost's tear; four—" Several adventurers hurriedly took notes on the ingredients.

"And finally—this is the hard one—you need a fingernail of a powerful demon."

"God Blow!"

When Vanir mentioned that last ingredient, Aqua slugged him, turning part of his body to dust.

"Dammit, woman! This is an emergency! There's no time for your silly games!

Now part of me is dirtying the floor!"

"You're right—this isn't a time for silly games. That's why I attacked you! A ghost's tears are easy enough; we can probably get one just by heading home and telling a really sad adventure story. That demon's fingernail, though… I know you've got a few! Hand them over!"

Oh yeah. Vanir was a demon, for sure. But he slowly shook his head. "I myself use a temporary body to manifest in this world. Everything other than my mask truly is dust."

Aqua clapped her hands. "Well, I'll just go ask the girls at everyone's favorite shop, then. I'll be like, 'Sorry, all I need is a few stripped-off fingernails!'"

(Image)

"Fool, I said a powerful demon. Those children won't give you anything useful."

I guess they were talking about the succubi. But if they couldn't help us… "I guess I have no choice. I shall have to use my familiar as a living sacrifice in the demon-summoning ritual passed down in the Crimson Magic Clan lo these many generations…" Darkness stopped Megumin before she could begin any bizarre rites. "Hold on, Megumin—I don't think we need to go that far…! Vanir, don't you know any other demons? Use your all-seeing-eye and find some!"

"…Hmm, well, I do know one who lives close to this town," he said, brushing his mask with his hand anxiously.

"Who?! Where?!"

At Darkness's urging, he finally told us…