Chapter 040 ⤞ Life Hangs by a Thread

Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and a person clad in iron armor emerged from the weapon shop.

The quartet strolled down the street, the iron-clad figure clanking behind them. They couldn't help but notice the weird looks they were getting from folks passing by.

"What's that?"

"An iron barrel...?"

"No, it's clearly a person."

"An adventurer?"

"Must be a knight."

"But why would a knight dress so bizarrely?"

"Uh... performance art?"

"..."

On the street, adventurers and villagers alike pointed and whispered to their companions, eyeing the iron-clad figure trailing the trio.

"Hey Darkness, aren't you drawing too much attention?" Kazuma scolded, discomfited by the onlookers' stares.

"Indeed, these gazes feel rather unfriendly."

"I agree."

Both Aqua and Megumin expressed their unease.

Darkness, however, reveled in the situation, "Is that so? I find these gazes intoxicating. Hah~... Hah~... How wonderful!"

She panted, her face flushed.

"Damn it." Kazuma muttered under his breath.

Her perversion had reached astronomical heights, leaving him at a loss.

Truth be told, he loathed standing out. Sure, he wanted people to notice him, but not like this. He was after the good vibes, not the stink-eye from strangers.

He knew he had to cook up a quick getaway plan before things got even weirder.

"Hey, guys, let's get out of here fast!" Kazuma took the lead and dashed off, leaving the others behind, "I don't want to be famous. I'm going ahead! Outta my way!"

With that, he bolted out of Axel's village.

"Hey, wait up!"

"Kazuma, you despicable coward!"

Seeing him flee, Aqua and Megumin quickly sped up to chase after him. Darkness, noticing the three run off, also started running, her armor clanking loudly.

As she ran, she stammered, "Y-you... you actually abandoned me alone, w-wanting to see my disgraceful state! Kazuma, you're such a fiend—!"

Finally, she shouted loudly…

"It's wonderful—!"

This perverted outburst made passing pedestrians stop in their tracks, curious about the Kazuma person the iron-clad figure was addressing.

While his intention was to leave quickly without drawing attention, his actions actually made Darkness attract even more attention from passersby, completely exposing himself in the process.

But Kazuma remained blissfully unaware of all this!

Who knows what hardships await him next.

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The group that ran out of the beginner's village headed south, towards the location of the {Subjugate Five Forest Dire Wolves} quest.

"Kazuma... Kazuma, let's take a break. I can't run anymore." Megumin pleaded, leaning on her staff as she addressed the still-jogging Kazuma.

Hearing her call, he halted.

"A break, huh... Alright, let's rest for a bit." After checking the sun and their progress, he agreed to pause momentarily.

Darkness, who had been following behind, quickly caught up and asked with concern, "Megumin, you can't run anymore?"

Megumin sat on the ground, observing her normal complexion and steady breathing. Puzzled, she inquired, "Why aren't you tired at all? Even with such heavy armor and a giant shield."

Hearing this, Darkness shyly scratched her helmet and replied sheepishly, "Well, although I'm not good at attacking, when it comes to endurance, I'm confident I won't lose to anyone."

Kazuma nodded in deep agreement at her words.

However, thinking about her other issues, his face contorted with disgust. His team's 「Crusader」 indeed possessed stamina and endurance far beyond normal people, but her level of perversion was equally unmatched.

As he grappled with this internal conflict, Kazuma suddenly noticed Aqua lagging behind the group.

"Hey, Aqua, what are you doing?"

She, who had been constantly complaining about being tired, wasn't grumbling at all. Instead, she wore a suspiciously happy expression.

Very suspicious indeed...

Hearing his shout, Aqua hastily replied, "N-nothing! I just fell behind a bit!"

Extremely suspicious! Something was definitely amiss.

Just as Kazuma was about to investigate, a beast's roar pierced the air.

Roar~!

It was a tiger's roar! The sound, full of dominance and incredibly intimidating, caused countless birds and beasts to scatter in flight, awakening the quiet forest.

Everyone's hearts skipped a beat.

"What's going on? What happened?" Kazuma asked his teammates, suppressing his panic, "Are you all okay?"

"We're fine, we're fine."

"I'm alright." Megumin asked fearfully, gripping her staff, "What on earth is happening?"

Darkness stepped forward, her face under the helmet looking grave, and said solemnly, "It's probably the Beginner's Bane."

"What's a Beginner's Bane?" Kazuma asked hurriedly, "Quickly explain!"

"The Beginner's Bane is a giant tiger." Darkness explained, ignoring his rudeness, "Rumor has it that it has eaten many people. Numerous novice adventurers who tried to subjugate it ended up being devoured instead. Because it's very strong and likes to roam near the beginner's village, people call it the Beginner's Bane."

Kazuma's face grew serious, "Hasn't anyone tried to subjugate it?"

"There's always a quest for it on the Adventurers' Guild's board. But it's too strong for novice adventurers to defeat, so it remains unresolved. I didn't expect we'd run into it." Darkness's tone became more serious.

"Looks like we're in big trouble today." Kazuma frowned, then turned to Megumin, "It's your time to shine. Cast a perfect Explosion Magic."

"I am Megumin, the master of Explosion Magic!" Megumin declared, shaking her cape, "Leave this small matter to me!"

"Oh, I'm counting on you." Kazuma thought to himself, 'Although our Arch Wizard has some issues with her head, her strength is undeniably real. It should be fine... right?'

Little did he know, he had inadvertently raised a deadly flag.

"It's here!" Darkness shouted, raising her giant shield, "Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, the Beginner's Bane is here!"

Suddenly, a giant tiger leaped out from the forest!

The giant tiger's body was massive, its aura imposing. Streamlined muscles rippled beneath its coat, exuding a wild beauty. It circled the group with lazy steps, as if they were trespassers in its backyard.

The beast's intense gaze fixed on the group, instilling a constant sense of dread.

Roar~!

Suddenly, it seized the moment. With a powerful kick from its hind legs, the tiger charged at the group!

"Am I the target? Perfect, bring it on!" Kazuma exclaimed.

Seeing the tiger lunging straight at him, he executed a slide tackle to dodge underneath it. However, in escaping danger, he'd forgotten about Megumin standing behind him!

His evasion had inadvertently placed her in peril!

"Megumin!"

"Damn it, Megumin!"

"Megumin!!!"

Everyone shouted anxiously for her to run.

But the tiger was too swift. Megumin, terrified and pale, sat powerless on the ground, her legs shaking uncontrollably. After all, she was barely a teenager, incapable of responding like a seasoned adventurer in a life-or-death situation.

"It's too late!"

Darkness, weighed down by her heavy equipment, couldn't keep up. She could only watch helplessly as her friend faced the tiger's attack.

Just as Megumin closed her eyes in despair, she heard a confident and firm male voice — more melodious than ever before.

◈ Thunder Breathing, First Form ⫸ Thunderclap and Flash ◈

A bolt of lightning flashed by!

When Megumin opened her eyes again, she saw the once-ferocious tiger lying headless — felled by a single strike.

She had survived.

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