Chapter 136: Women just distract you from getting stronger

Ten minutes later, Shichen took the newly joined Darkness and teleported outside the city.

Chris did not come along; she simply slipped away, paying Darkness no mind at all.

"Whoa — there really are so many Giant Toads! All those colors are making my eyes spin," Satou Kazuma said in amazement, staring at the multicolored plain in the distance.

"Why are there so many of them?" Yunyun asked curiously.

"Giant Toads like rainy weather, so when it's like this they all come out," Darkness explained, gazing at the toads with excitement.

"In that case, it's the perfect time for an Explosion spell!" Megumin struck a dramatic pose with her staff.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shichen rapped her lightly on the head, irritated.

"Why'd you hit me?" Megumin glared at him.

"What are you up to?"

"I said I was going to fire off an Explosion spell. Aren't you in a hurry to get back? If we finish sooner, we can head home sooner—"

"The toads are too spread out. How do you plan to wipe them out with a single blast of Explosion magic?"

"Ah… true. Then what do we do?"

"In that case, leave it to me!" Darkness said, brimming with enthusiasm.

"Huh? How are you going to help?"

"I have the Taunt skill. I can draw their attention. I'll lure them all together, okay?"

"Can you really manage that?"

"Think of it as my first contribution to the party. Leave it to me!"

Darkness slapped her breastplate, then charged straight into the rain toward the Giant Toads.

"Haah ~ what's with her? Couldn't she just stay put?" Aqua yawned, bored.

"You think everyone's as lazy as you?"

"Shichen, did you call me lazy? How could you…!"

"Didn't you just complain at the guild that you wanted to go back to sleep? It's broad daylight, you know."

"But…it's raining! Isn't rain perfect for sleeping? Rainy days are totally made for naps!" Aqua pouted.

"Aren't you the goddess of water? Why does rain make you sleepy?"

"Exactly because it's raining! Water and I are in sync. In weather this perfect for me, of course I feel comfy and drowsy."

"…Fine, you have a point."

"Shichen, let's head back. I'm sleepy." Aqua clung to his arm, pleading.

"You just got up and even had breakfast… Forget it, complaining now is pointless. Let's finish the quest first, okay?"

"Eeh — how long will it take?"

"Shouldn't be long."

"Okay then."

"Big Bro, aren't you spoiling Aqua a bit too much? She looks good but is totally useless," Satou Kazuma grumbled.

"Yeah, Shichen, you're doting on Aqua! We've known you longer than she has, so why the favoritism? Right, Yunyun?" Megumin joined in.

"Uh… I guess it's not that bad," Yunyun said shyly.

"What's with you? Taking his side already? Traitor!"

"What are you talking about!"

"Argh!"

"I don't dote on Aqua that much, do I?" Shichen mused.

Was he favoring Aqua?

He only satisfied her craving for sparkling wine, went along with what she said, responded to her flirting… Hmm, maybe he did spoil her a bit.

Well, whatever. Pampering her came with a price — he'd make sure she paid him back later.

"Hmph, Shichen, don't tell me you like Aqua?" Megumin asked.

"Not like that." Shichen shook his head with a smile.

He did like her, but not in the way Megumin meant.

"Really?"

"Why would I lie?"

"Fine, I'll barely believe you."

"You're such a pain." He flicked her forehead.

"Ow… that hurts!"

"Big Bro, I think—"

"No need to remind me, I understand her well enough," Shichen cut Kazuma off.

"No, I mean Darkness over there—"

"Hm? What about her…?"

Looking over, Shichen finally noticed Darkness seemed overly excited; her ecstatic shouts carried all the way to them.

"Come on, all of you! Lick my whole body with your huge tongues, cover me in slime! Whip me to your heart's content!"

A huge swarm of Giant Toads followed right behind her, and not only was she unafraid, her cheeks were flushed as she babbled deliriously.

Anyone could see what was going on.

"Big Bro, Darkness isn't…?" Kazuma asked, face twisting.

"Yeah, looks like you figured it out."

"How can this be!" Kazuma cried in disbelief. "Isn't she supposed to be the cool, sexy onee-san type? How can she be a masochist? That gap is insane!"

"Gap-moe is popular these days."

"Sorry, I can't handle masochists."

"No problem. She's maxed her defense stat. Paired with her masochism, she's perfect for the front line."

"…Is that really okay?"

"She's already in the party, what can you do? Just accept it." Shichen patted his shoulder.

"Damn it! Is there no normal person in this world?"

"Yunyun's perfectly normal." Shichen fondly looked at her.

"U-um…" Yunyun fidgeted, embarrassed.

"But Yunyun belongs to Big Bro—"

"Kazuma, you're still too young. A man can't think only about women. Isn't leveling up and getting stronger better?"

"…Big Bro, that's not convincing coming from you."

"Why? Remember, I'm already strong."

"Eh? That's true."

"So women just distract you from getting stronger. Become strong first and romance will follow."

"I get it! I believe you, Big Bro! I'm going to help!"

Energized, Kazuma drew his dagger and charged the toads.

"What's with him?" Megumin asked, puzzled.

"He's seen the light."

"So what do we do?"

"Megumin, prep your Explosion. Yunyun, use Intermediate Magic to drive the other toads toward Darkness."

"Eh? Will that be okay?"

"Relax. With Darkness's defense, even Megumin's Explosion won't faze her. Plus we have Aqua."

"That strong?"

"Why else would I let her join? Just because she's pretty?"

"Well, maybe a little?"

"Shoo—" Shichen flicked Megumin's forehead again.

"Ow ~" Megumin pouted.

"I'll blow on it later, okay?"

"I'm not a kid!"

"To me you are… Enough talk; I'm going to help those two."

With that, Shichen blinked to Darkness's side.

"Wow!" Darkness jumped. "Shichen, why are you here?"

"Megumin's almost ready. I'll pull you back in a sec."

"Really? Actually, you don't have to. I think I can tank Megumin's spell."

"That's Explosion magic."

"Ex-Explosion? Even better!"

"…You're hopeless."

"Haah, haah—never thought I'd try such an amazing attack right after joining. I really chose the right party!"

"Right party? More like no other party would take you."

"H-how did you know?"

"Heh, with that attitude, what normal party would?"

"Hehehe ~"

"Anyway, I can't let you get blown up too. You're my teammate now, so do as I say."

"How can you…?" Darkness looked disappointed.

"Don't worry; I'll fulfill your wish later."

"Really?"

"That depends on how you behave."

"I-I understand! I'll be good! You can do whatever you want — steal my panties or bra, whip me, anything!"

"Enough!"

"Mmph!"

"Megumin's ready. Give me your hand."

"O-okay." Suddenly demure, Darkness slowly offered her hand.

Shichen grabbed it and instantly whisked her away, and the moment they left, a massive explosion erupted —

BOOM!

The deafening blast shook the air, swallowing the surrounding toads in flames.

Well, so much for toad meat; their payout was going to suffer.

"Take that! And that!"

Farther from the blast zone, Satou Kazuma was still awkwardly sparring with a lone Giant Toad.

Ignoring him, Shichen and the others stared at the charred crater.

"So this is Explosion magic? Incredible!" Darkness marveled.

Shichen nodded. "At this rate, the whole of Axel will be ringed by craters."

~~~

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