Chapter 51: Yunyun’s Advanced Magic  

"—Please, please support me!"

Though the phrase was ridiculously dramatic, its impact was no less powerful than "I am but a humble novice—please guide me." Even Zunzun instinctively tensed up when he heard it.

But when he realized it was Megumin saying those words...

All his sympathy vanished.

Looking down at Megumin groveling on his doorstep, Zunzun crossed his arms and raised his chin with an exaggerated smirk.

"Hey now—what happened to Miss Megumin, the top student who graduated before me? One of the Crimson Demon Clan's most promising Explosion Magicians? The future Demon King herself? Gave up after one day?"

"Mmm…"

Her whole body trembled with each word.

Megumin must be so ashamed right now.

In the Crimson Demon Clan, learning magic was equivalent to graduating—and graduation meant adulthood and self-sufficiency. Schools taught everything from monster hunting and potion-making to business skills. Failing that, you could always inherit the family business.

Shoe store heir. Fortune-teller apprentice. Stay-at-home loli.

But Megumin… had nothing.

One single use of Explosion Magic per day. Useless for monster hunting. She couldn't control her magic, so anything she tried to make ended up exploding. Even her family was too poor to support her as a freeloader.

"I can do anything! Please give me some food! My sister—Komekko's starving to death!"

"Don't be ridiculous. Komekko won't starve even if you die," Zunzun rolled his eyes.

Unlike Megumin, Komekko was wildly popular among the Crimson Demons. She regularly received food tributes. That little gremlin would never go hungry.

"Fine, wait here."

Zunzun went inside and came back with an armful of food.

"Here."

"Thank you!!"

Megumin's eyes sparkled with joy.

Her parents hadn't returned home in three months. And now that she'd graduated, she no longer qualified for Yunyun's bento box—her lifeline. She hadn't eaten since the night before last.

Zunzun sighed. "At least learn some basic magic to get by."

"I refuse!"

"You…!"

Zunzun's fists clenched as veins bulged on Megumin's forehead.

They'd already gone over this, "Now that you've fulfilled your dream of learning Explosion Magic, you should pick up some basic or intermediate magic to supplement it."

But Megumin had flatly rejected the idea.

She even declared her famous line, "I'd rather die than learn anything other than Explosion Magic!"

Yunyun had complained that Explosion Magic had completely ruined her.

Happily clutching her food basket, Megumin turned to go. Zunzun added, "By the way, Sister Soketto wants to see you at the fortune-telling house."

"Huh?" Megumin froze, eyes narrowing. "Hey, you didn't—!"

"Nope! But she's a fortune-teller. You really think she wouldn't already know?"

"…I guess that's true."

After all, Zunzun's family were fortune-tellers, and everyone acknowledged their accuracy. When Zunzun was only eight, he predicted that a shopkeeper from Axel would someday buy Hyoizaburoo's weird magic gadgets. And recently, that prediction had come true.

"Don't worry," he said. "Sister Soketto just wants to help you see your future—not scold you."

"Really? Whew, that's a relief."

She patted her chest—though it didn't move at all.

After dropping Megumin off, Zunzun went wandering around the village, looking for someone else: his other childhood friend.

Eventually, he found her at the wishing pond, practicing treading water. It seemed Yunyun had also realized how effective it was for improving magic control.

After some effort, she sat down on the water, resting her chin on her palm and sighing.

Zunzun approached.

"Yunyun."

"Zunzun?"

She turned, blinking in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I—I'm practicing. Treading water really does help with control… I mean, I'm just a half-baked intermediate magician. If I don't work hard, I won't catch up to you…"

She smiled, but it was obviously forced.

Half-baked magician.

That was the scornful label villagers gave to anyone who only managed to learn intermediate magic.

In the Crimson Demon Clan, advanced magic was considered basic literacy. They believed only advanced magicians could stand independently, and anyone stuck with intermediate spells was quietly looked down on.

Even though she had to learn intermediate magic under pressure—and even though her teachers and classmates all understood—Yunyun still couldn't shake the shame.

After all, she was the daughter of the Red Demon Clan's Chief.

"I can't become the clan chief like this…" she muttered, sighing again.

Without another word, Zunzun took her hand.

"H-Huh!? Zunzun?"

"Don't ask. Just come with me."

He dragged her all the way home, led her to his room, and pushed her onto the bed—then climbed on after her.

"HUH!? Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you doing!?"

Yunyun crossed her arms protectively over her chest, completely panicked.

"I told you. Don't ask. Just leave it to me."

"Wha—what do you mean!?"

Seeing the serious look in his eyes, tears welled in hers. She closed her eyes and whispered:

"…Th-This is my first time. So please… please be gentle."

"It'll be over soon."

(He was not believed.)

In her mind, Yunyun silently apologized: I'm sorry, Father. I haven't even come of age, and I'm already crossing the threshold into adulthood…

And then—A round object pressed against her lips.

She instinctively opened her mouth and—

"Aghh! Cough! Cough!"

Water flooded down her throat, making her gag. She opened her eyes and stared at the small bottle in Zunzun's hand.

"…This… this is a skill point potion!?"

On her bedside sat at least twenty more.

"Why do you have so many!?"

"It's not important."

Zunzun smirked evilly. "Don't even think about running. You're going to drink all of them."

"N-No! That's too many! I can't— I can't drink anymore!!"

Zunzun didn't stop until she had drained fifteen bottles. Her eyes were completely glazed over by the end.

Why did Zunzun have so many skill point potions?

Have you ever played a game where you beat the final boss purely through strategy, saving all your rare potions just in case?

And then, when you check your inventory…You're left with tons of unused items. But you don't regret it. You feel proud.

That's right.

Zunzun had hoarder syndrome.

(Megumin's skill potion came from this stash too.)

Since Yunyun stopped cooperating halfway, they didn't finish until noon.

She stepped out of the room afterward, gently rubbing her slightly swollen belly, face glowing with happiness.

Originally, she'd been four points short of the skill points needed to learn advanced magic. After learning intermediate magic and using ten points, she still needed fourteen more.

Thanks to Zunzun, she now had them.

Though even with advanced magic, she was still weaker than Megumin. Explosion Magic was no joke. But Yunyun didn't mind.

She was satisfied.

"Thank you, Zunzun!" she beamed.

CLANG!

Something fell heavily to the ground.

They turned to see Megumin standing nearby, frozen stiff.

She muttered like a ghost: "…It was me first. I was first…"

"Me-Megumin!?"

Yunyun panicked. She didn't know why, but she was suddenly very nervous.

Megumin lunged forward, grabbed Yunyun's shoulders, and shouted:

"That was MY lunch! Spit out my lunch!!"

"Stop shaking me! I'm gonna vomit— I'm really gonna vomit!!" Yunyun cried, looking ready to cry again.

-End Chapter-

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