Chapter 54: Skill Point Potion Recipe  

"That's not Explosion Magic!"

Megumin declared it with complete conviction.

After Zunzun unleashed the spell, he lay sprawled on the ground, utterly drained. Yunyun watched him with concern. Only Megumin stood there frowning deeply, her arms crossed in judgment.

"I absolutely refuse to acknowledge that as Explosion Magic!"

Her tone was grave, like a judge passing a death sentence.

It wasn't that Zunzun had refused to use 50 skill points to officially learn Explosion Magic—it was that she genuinely believed what he just used wasn't the real thing.

Zunzun agreed.

What he did wasn't true Explosion Magic. He had simply compressed his magical power to the limit… and then released it all at once in a burst.

Real Explosion Magic, Megumin explained, detonates twice—once during release and again during the spreading phase, maximizing damage. It's that secondary detonation that gives it its unique destructive force. Also, true Explosion Magic allows for precision targeting.

Zunzun, meanwhile, had barely managed to keep his spell from blowing himself up.

He couldn't aim. He couldn't control the direction. He simply dumped magic power outward in every direction like a magic-powered sprinkler system.

The spell's massive power had come solely from his own ridiculous magic reserves.

Still, he was pretty satisfied.

Even if he was currently too weak to stand.

Just as the trio prepared to retreat, they heard rustling from the forest behind them.

A figure appeared from the shadows.

"…What are you doing out here?"

"Bukkororii?"

It was him—the proud member of the so-called [Anti-Demon Army Guerrilla Force], which was, in truth, just a ragtag bunch called the [NEET Mutual Aid Team].

According to Bukkororii, due to the frequent attacks from the mysterious "Explosion Demon," the team had been conscripted into night patrol duty—for a meager wage, of course.

He'd come running when he saw the massive column of light shoot into the sky.

Megumin quickly fabricated a story: they'd been attacked by a powerful Demon Army officer—specifically, a buxom demon woman with horns. Zunzun had been seriously wounded in the battle.

Bukkororii bought it without question.

After all, Megumin and Yunyun were just students—even if they had learned advanced magic—and Zunzun was "a student who hadn't even formally studied magic yet."

Of course they couldn't have caused that much destruction.

So, Bukkororii gallantly offered to carry the "gravely wounded" Zunzun home on his back.

No one objected.

Zunzun would much rather be carried bridal-style by Bukkororii than be dragged away like luggage by Megumin and Yunyun again.

The next morning, the villagers were furious.

Until now, the so-called "Explosion Demon" had only blown things up in the back mountain. But this time, the explosion had occurred within village boundaries.

What's next? Explosion Magic in the central plaza?

Outraged, the village elders immediately enforced 24-hour patrols of the forbidden zone and surrounding areas.

As a result, Megumin lost her nightly casting privileges. She stared at Zunzun every day like a newlywed wife waiting for her husband to come home and carry her across the threshold.

But Zunzun was too busy to care. He was still a student—and school life was hectic.

Today was magic props class.

The assignment: craft a magic item that expresses your personal style. Eye masks, fingerless gloves, headbands, etc.

But Zunzun and friends weren't listening.

They were making… a magic wand.

It was a graduation gift for Megumin. Arue and Dodonko had prepared all the materials, but their crafting skills weren't up to par, so they begged Zunzun for help.

He didn't refuse.

Now, with intense focus, he was carving the final rune into the wand's shaft.

With his current ability, Zunzun could engrave up to three magic circles on a single item. Naturally, for a girl obsessed with Explosion Magic, he chose three circles that enhanced raw magical power.

When he made the final stroke and the magic circle glowed faintly with light—

"—It's done!"

"Wooo!!" ×2

Engraving a single magic circle was hard enough. Making three without the wand exploding in your face took skill.

Magic tool crafters required precise magical control, laser focus, and rock-solid discipline.

But for the Crimson Demon Clan?

That was practically their default setting.

"You're amazing, Zunzun," one of them said. "Your control's gotten way better. I can already see it—Red Demon Clan's next magic tool master!"

"Seriously. You crushed it this class. You're getting full marks! After class, come see me for your reward—a skill point potion!"

Their teacher didn't believe in empty praise. He even threw his hand in the air like he was tossing cash.

After class, Zunzun paid a visit to the teacher.

Not only did he get his usual skill point potion…

He also got something even better.

A recipe.

The teacher's expression softened. "I know you've been eager to graduate early, but I didn't want you to end up like those half-baked Red Demon graduates with nothing but high scores and no skills. That's why I kept holding you back. I thought the pressure might help. But I didn't expect you to grow this fast."

"Teacher…"

"You've done me proud! With this level of talent, maybe I'll become the principal next year! Wahahaha—!"

…And just like that, the teacher's serious tone dissolved into classic Crimson Demon chuuni nonsense.

After the laughter died down, he handed the recipe to Zunzun.

"This is normally something we teach during the advanced course. But I think you're ready. Still… think carefully. If you take this step, you must be prepared to give up everything—even your life."

"…I've always been ready."

"Excellent! Then I hereby entrust the Red Demon Clan's greatest treasure… to you!"

After completing that ritual Crimson Demon skit, Zunzun opened the scroll and saw the title:

Skill Point Potion Recipe.

His eyes lit up like lanterns.

Honestly, the main reason he even stayed in school was to get free skill point potions. With the formula in hand, he could technically drop out and go full-time potion brewer.

But he wasn't in a rush.

At least until he could produce the potions reliably, he wanted to keep learning and gathering experience.

Then the teacher added, "Technically, students aren't allowed to make skill point potions… but if you provide your own materials, we'll look the other way."

"…So the school only loans the equipment?"

Zunzun blinked.

Come to think of it, it made sense. They didn't stop students from borrowing tools… but using school-owned materials to brew millions-worth potions? That would be problematic.

"So either buy the ingredients from the pharmacy—or ask those NEETs… I mean, the 'Anti-Demon Army Guerrilla Force' to help you gather them."

"I understand. Thank you, teacher."

Zunzun bowed with sincere gratitude.

Then he opened the formula and stared.

His face slowly darkened.

Ingredients:

Heart of a Fire Dragon Beast

Gallbladder of a One-Strike Bear

Horn of a Horned Rabbit

Root of the Tranquility Girl

…plus a handful of absurdly rare magical herbs.

Zunzun had always assumed the high price of skill point potions—tens of millions of Eris—was due to labor, craftsmanship, and licensing.

He had not expected the ingredients themselves to be outrageously rare and expensive.

"…Looks like I'll have to call in a favor from those NEETs."

He sighed deeply, already imagining how much trouble this would be.

-End Chapter-

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