Chapter 55: The Thousand Layers of Routines of the Tranquility Girl  

Get the Prime-NEETs help.

That was the plan. But unlike the rest of the NEETs, Zunzun had one more powerful card up his sleeve—Sister Soketto.

When she heard Zunzun planned to leave the village to gather ingredients, Sister Soketto, ever the overprotective guardian, immediately insisted on going with him.

And if she was going, then naturally, Bukkororii wasn't going to miss the chance to tag along. Add Yunyun, who also wanted to help, and the team of four was quickly assembled.

Originally, Megumin had wanted to come too. But considering her Explosion Magic could easily vaporize any rare materials they needed, Zunzun firmly vetoed it. Without her magic, Megumin was more liability than asset—no matter how loudly she protested.

Outside the Crimson Demon Village.

Departing from the main gate, the group headed toward the plains.

"Yunyun, I didn't expect you to join the [NEET Mutual Aid Team]. Weren't you training to become the next chief of the Crimson Demon Clan?" Zunzun asked. He hadn't seen much of her lately and had assumed she'd gone off to do a trial or something.

Ignoring Bukkororii's grumbling, Yunyun nodded. "My father said that to inherit the clan, I need real field experience. So he made me join the [Anti-Demon King Army Guerrilla Force] to train."

Zunzun nodded in understanding.

"You said you wanted to protect your friends and didn't want anyone to get hurt again," Bukkororii added with surprising sincerity. "You've been working really hard, Yunyun."

Before the monster invasion, she had been pushing herself to learn intermediate magic. Even the incident where she nearly made Megumin give up Explosion Magic had clearly weighed on her. None of it was really her fault.

Overwhelmed by the praise, Yunyun lowered her head in embarrassment.

Honestly, with her mindset and dedication, she was more than qualified to be the next chief.

The other three looked at her warmly.

Then Sister Soketto turned to Zunzun.

"Zunzun, once we leave the village, stay right next to me. Got it?"

"Okay."

Zunzun nodded.

It's not like he thought he was weak. Against a mid-level demon, he might last a few rounds, and he could even land a hit or two on a high-level one. But Sister Soketto's concern was genuine and parental. When someone cared for you that sincerely, the right response was to listen.

Bukkororii proudly slapped his chest. "Don't worry! I'll protect you!"

…Thanks, but maybe focus on protecting yourself, first.

Their targets this trip were:

The Heart of the Fire Dragon Beast

The Root of the Tranquility Girl

The other two materials, the Horned Rabbit Horn and One-Strike Bear Gallbladder, weren't a problem. Sister Soketto hunted those regularly in the mountains.

Now, the Fire Dragon Beast.

Despite the name, it wasn't a real fire dragon. Just a huge fire-breathing lizard, about 8 meters long and 3 meters wide. Still, ordinary adventurers would be doomed if they ran into one.

But—

"Cursed Crystal Prison!"

With a casual wave of his hand, Bukkororii froze the creature from the neck down.

"OOOOHHH~!!" ×3

All three clapped for him.

Zunzun had only ever seen such clean high-level ice magic from his teachers. To think this NEET could casually pull it off… Life was so unfair.

Wait, aren't I a Crimson Demon too? Okay, never mind then.

Thanks to Bukkororii's OP magic, they quickly harvested the Fire Dragon Beast's heart.

Next: the Root of the Tranquility Girl.

Zunzun was visibly excited.

The forests surrounding the Crimson Demon Village were full of terrifying monsters. The Tranquility Girl was one of the most dangerous—not because it physically harmed adventurers, but because it emotionally manipulated them to death.

A plant-type monster, the Tranquility Girl didn't fight directly. Instead, it gave off an aura of helplessness and sorrow, evoking overwhelming feelings of compassion. Adventurers drawn in by its pitiful appearance would get too close… and be trapped forever in its grasp.

It didn't even attack violently. It simply refused to let go.

The more sympathetic and kind-hearted the target, the more lethal it was.

…Fortunately, Zunzun was not particularly kind.

They walked a narrow trail flanked by dense forest. According to reports, the Tranquility Girl liked to pretend to be an injured girl slumped on the roadside, waiting to lure in would-be rescuers.

Sure enough, near the end of the path, they spotted her.

Leaning against a tree in a tattered nun's outfit, the creature looked like a holy maiden who had seen too much suffering. Her white skin shone through torn fabric. Her soft expression seemed to radiate divine compassion and tragic endurance.

There were no visible wounds… but the pain in her eyes spoke of suffering deeper than flesh.

Zunzun froze.

This wasn't what he expected.

Shouldn't it be pretending to be hurt or in pain to stir sympathy? Why the fallen nun act?

Well, not that it mattered.

He just wanted the root.

"Sister Soketto, please—eh?"

He turned to ask for help… and found that Soketto was already walking forward with a concerned look.

"Excuse me, are you hurt?"

"Wait! Soketto, that's a monster!"

Bukkororii quickly grabbed her shoulder. He wasn't going to let her fall for some seductive plant's tricks—not because of sharp instincts or bravery, but because he was forever loyal to Soketto.

Zunzun nodded. Good thing Bukkororii came.

But then—

"Are we really going to leave her like that?" Soketto asked, her expression filled with righteous worry. "That sad, helpless look is practically begging for help! As Crimson Demons, shouldn't we show compassion to those in need?"

"…Yes! Soketto is right! We should help people!"

Bukkororii defected instantly.

You damn simp! You're not even hiding it!

Now even Yunyun looked ready to charge in. If Zunzun hadn't stopped her, she probably would've been caught in the first trap.

"Hold up! It's a plant—a Tranquility Girl! That's not a nun. It's a monster! All of this is just bait!"

Zunzun tried to reason with them.

But then—

"Are you travelers seeking rest? Or are you… lost?"

Her voice was gentle, clear, and reassuring.

Sunlight streamed through the trees, falling right onto her body like divine spotlighting. In that moment, the forest seemed to dim, and she became the only point of light.

Hands clasped over her chest, her expression full of warmth and concern, she looked every bit the saint.

Even Zunzun's heart skipped a beat.

…This thing was next-level.

Normally, Tranquility Girls passively triggered a protective instinct.

But this one was talking, interacting, weaving emotional bonds on the fly. She was a whole new category: the Socially Engineered Siren.

"Are you okay?" Sister Soketto asked gently.

Just as she stepped forward—

"No! Don't come any closer!" the nun suddenly cried.

The group flinched.

The Tranquility Girl lowered her head and muttered sadly, "My roots… I can't control them. If you get too close… I might hurt you."

A mix of regret, sorrow, helplessness, and fear clouded her expression.

At that moment, Zunzun understood one thing with absolute clarity:

This Tranquility Girl's rank… is way too damn high.

-End Chapter-

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