Chapter 43: The 'Boy' Zunzun Likes  

The students continued to self-study while the teachers were off patrolling the forbidden zone. It was during this quiet time that Zunzun noticed something.

The teachers in Crimson Demon Village… didn't seem all that reliable?

He was flipping through a book titled On the Possibility of Visitors from Another World.

It explained how this world was often visited by mysterious people claiming to be from elsewhere. They typically had black hair and wielded outrageous powers or tools.

But without understanding this world's common sense, they constantly caused chaos and hilarity.

Zunzun agreed.

Like: saury planted in soil, watermelon grown in rivers, and potatoes that jump. None of these farming systems made sense. But if it worked consistently… was it really a bug?

The book claimed these visitors were usually "heroes" sent by a goddess, destined to gather strong allies and defeat the Demon King.

Yet most ended up causing more trouble than they solved.

True enough. That old Doctor, who founded the Crimson Demon Clan, was the worst.

Not only did he embezzle imperial funds to make game consoles, he also dabbled in nonsense like Magician Killers, Railguns, and even built the Mobile Fortress Destroyer—a continent-wandering catastrophe.

Honestly, Aqua should've brainwashed him the moment he got isekai'd.

Meanwhile, the girls beside Zunzun were chatting.

He didn't show it, but he was eavesdropping.

"So I think he definitely likes me! But what should I do? I did make a vow with my past-life lover to be together after reincarnation… Would this be cheating?" Dodonko whispered, conflicted.

How did she have a past-life boyfriend? She wasn't even a reincarnated hero.

Funifura chimed in, "It's fine! The past is the past. My soulmate is obviously sealed at the bottom of some hell pit, so I have to master magic to rescue him!"

Then why aren't you studying!?

Enough of this.

Why was everyone suddenly obsessed with romance? It had to be Bukkororii's bad influence.

Still, girls liked this kind of thing.

Yunyun smiled awkwardly. "I see… You two are so amazing."

She couldn't really relate.

The three of them were sitting together, supposedly studying, but the conversation had turned to imaginary soulmates.

Not that they were too young. In this world, 14-year-olds were considered adults. At 12 and a half, they were practically there. Zunzun had seen even weirder things.

"What about you, Yunyun? What kind of person was your past-life lover?"

Dodonko pressed on, curious.

Without hesitation, Yunyun replied, "I like quiet, gentle boys who'll listen to me talk about my day…"

"Boring."

"Super boring."

Dodonko and Funifura's faces soured.

Megumin added, "Can't be helped. She's a freak. And I must've been the God of Destruction in my past life. No time for love!"

Clearly avoiding the question.

"I'm a freak...?" Yunyun muttered, confused.

Her dating preferences were normal. Why were they the weird ones?

"Don't worry about it."

Arue turned to the only boy nearby. "Hey Zunzun, what kind of boy do you like?"

"...I'll give you one chance to rephrase that."

"Oops, sorry. I meant—what kind of person was your past-life lover?"

"I do like a boy," Zunzun said calmly.

"Wait, really!?"

All the girls leaned in, excited.

Boys liking boys? Now that's juicy!

"Yes..."

Zunzun picked up a pen and began sketching in his notebook.

Thanks to his absurd talents, he was gifted at both calligraphy and drawing. He often drew for his sister, and now reproduced the boy he admired.

"I like a great hero. He wears a tight headband, golden armor, and rides colorful clouds. He's brave, fearless, and fights without hesitation. Rather than love, I admire him. I want to be him."

With a few strokes, he finished.

Funifura and the others leaned in.

"…A monkey?" x4

"Yeah, he's probably genderless too. He jumped out of a rock."

"OH… oh?"

The sheer absurdity rendered them speechless.

They imagined human soulmates. Zunzun… liked a monkey in armor. Was this the equivalent of saying you liked a pig-headed orc?

What kind of XP was this!?

Even Arue came over. "What's going on?"

When she heard about the monkey crush, even she was at a loss. And she could flatter anyone.

"Say, Arue, do you want to be a writer?"

"I do! I'll be one of the Crimson Demons' most famous writers!"

She adjusted her eye mask, posing dramatically.

"Then…" Zunzun rested his chin on his hands. "Let's collaborate."

"Collaborate?"

"Yes. I have a story I want you to write. You probably need new ideas. This might help. Or maybe it'll ruin you. Heck, it might even destroy the world."

"…Destroy the world? Hehe. How could I refuse that?"

She was hooked.

"So what's the title?"

"Journey to the West."

-End Chapter-

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