Chapter 134: No one believes the truth

"Weren't you the one who told me to drive her away? If we let her know about Aqua she'd only stick around, wouldn't she?"

"That's true…" Megumin nodded, then added, "But I still feel like you're hiding something from me."

"Fine, I'll tell you straight: Aqua really is that very same Water Goddess."

Shichen looked at her solemnly.

"Tch—whatever, keep it if you don't want to talk."

Megumin turned away with a pout.

Shichen could only shake his head.

These days telling the truth just makes people doubt you. After all, who would believe a goddess is right beside them—and acting so silly, no less?

"Okay, put me down already. How long are you planning to hug me?"

"Hey, it's your fault for being as comfy as a body-pillow."

"So you're calling me small, aren't you!"

"Aren't you small?"

"Ugh! Then stop hugging me and hug Yunyun—she's bigger!"

"Megumin!"

"No problem."

Shichen promptly set Megumin aside and pulled Yunyun into his arms, loosely encircling her waist.

"S-Shichen?!"

Yunyun's face turned scarlet; she froze, unable to move.

"Megumin told me to hug you, so take it up with her."

Shichen rested his chin on Yunyun's shoulder, quietly taking in her scent.

"Mm…"

His warm breath on her neck made Yunyun shrink back involuntarily.

"You two…" Megumin glowered at them.

"What? I'm only doing what you asked."

Shichen grinned.

"You can't do that right in front of me! Isn't this a bit… not for kids?"

"Oh? So you admit you are a kid?"

Megumin choked, then glared. "You two definitely did something today!"

"And why do you think that?"

"Isn't it obvious? Just look at you—Yunyun can't stop smiling."

"I-I'm not smiling!"

Yunyun denied, lacking conviction.

Megumin snorted.

Yunyun lowered her head, embarrassed.

"So even if something happened, what of it?"

"Ugh! You beat me till I couldn't move and then snuck off to have fun. Keep this up and you'll lose me!"

"Hmph, I'd say you can't live without me."

"Wh-who can't live without you?"

"You've been here for days—by now you must realize the limits of your Explosion Magic. A normal party would never take you."

"That's what you meant!"

Megumin's cheeks burned.

"What else could I mean? Where did your mind go?"

Shichen winked.

"None of your business!"

Megumin turned her back.

Seeing that, Shichen gave Yunyun a quick peck on the cheek and released her.

"All right—time for dinner."

Yunyun sat on the bed, motionless.

"Hmph."

Megumin climbed down but instantly noticed Yunyun's odd look.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing…" Yunyun shook her head and walked toward the door.

Megumin shrugged.

"Tch, what's there to be shy about? Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Mm…"

Yunyun hurried out.

"Wow, one short hug and she's that embarrassed," Megumin sighed.

"Exactly—unlike you. I held you forever and you didn't react at all," Shichen teased.

Megumin stayed silent, put on her shoes, and hurried out.

Shichen smiled at their retreating backs. A shy girl really brightens your day.

…

Outside, both girls had already gone downstairs.

Shichen first returned to his room to wake Aqua. She was still dead drunk; no matter how he called, she didn't stir, so he lightly smacked her backside.

Very different from Megumin's—Aqua's was half-exposed, after all.

Pretty soft, actually.

"Mm?" Aqua finally opened her eyes, bleary-eyed.

"Shichen? What is it?"

"Dinner time. You've slept the whole afternoon."

"Really? Haa~"

She sat up and let out an unladylike yawn, the smell of alcohol wafting out.

"Come on, get up. Megumin and the others will start without us."

"Oh… Huh? Why does my butt hurt?"

Sitting up, she felt a burning pain on her right side.

"I gave it a pat to wake you."

Shichen started to scratch his nose but remembered it was the same hand and let it drop.

"Eh? Why'd you hit me?" Aqua asked blankly.

"You wouldn't wake up—don't worry, it wasn't punishment."

"Really… but it still hurts."

She pouted.

"Want me… to rub it?"

"Would that help? Won't touching make it worse?"

Aqua asked innocently.

"…How about you just heal yourself."

Her clueless look killed the mood.

"Okay… Heal."

"Let's go."

"Yeah, yeah—hurry! Megumin'll finish dinner without us!"

Pain gone, Aqua seized his hand and ran.

"Aren't you still drunk?"

"I'm the Water Goddess! A little booze is nothing. Dinner's more important—I'm starving!"

…

At the dining hall, Megumin and Yunyun had already ordered. Kazuma wasn't back yet; with a few minutes to spare, Shichen and Aqua waited—he insisted the whole party eat their three meals together.

Kazuma was punctual, arriving in no time.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Big bro."

"No worries—perfect timing. Sit."

"Aah, I'm starving!" Kazuma sat opposite and started wolfing food.

The rest picked up their knives and forks.

Dinner passed quietly.

Afterward Shichen gathered everyone in his room. Aqua, true to form, dove onto his bed and yawned—full stomach, sleepy again.

Megumin noticed the empty bottle.

"Shichen, were you drinking?"

"Hm?" He followed her gaze.

"Oh—just a little…"

Kazuma arched a brow, giving a knowing look—he'd guessed who really drank it.

"What?"

"Nothing…"

"Alcohol's nothing special. You should cut back," Megumin scolded.

"Fine, but no sneaking drinks. You're under-age."

"Mind your own business…"

"Yunyun too."

"O-okay."

"All right, down to business. You all remember Darkness?"

"That blonde beauty?" Kazuma asked.

"That's her."

"What about her?" Megumin frowned.

"For various reasons she's joining our party. From now on she's one of us."

"Whoa! Big bro, you actually reeled in the blonde babe!" Kazuma cheered.

"Various reasons?" Megumin caught the phrase.

"Yes. That thief Chris taught me some skills on condition that Darkness join us."

"I see. So Chris herself isn't joining?"

"She declined."

"Why?"

"She just doesn't want to."

"Then why does darkness want in? Aren't they always together?"

"So many questions." Shichen rolled his eyes.

"I'm a member of this party—I have the right to know."

"Fair. Actually, I'm thinking of all of you."

Shichen's face turned serious.

"?

"Think about it—a crusader like Darkness gives us the front-line we lack; the rest of us are all rear-line."

"Now that you mention it…"

"Her defense is insane. With her up front, you can unleash Explosion without fear."

"Explosion…?" Just hearing the word made Megumin's heart race.

"No more objections?" Shichen smiled.

"Hmph—do whatever you like."

Megumin looked away, cheeks flushed.

"Big bro, when do we meet her?" Kazuma asked.

"Tomorrow morning at the guild. So everyone, up early."

"Okay—does that mean we can finally take harder quests tomorrow?"

"Not yet. Your level's too low—you don't want to just watch from the sidelines, right?"

"Darn it…"

~~~

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