Vol 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

PART 1

After being attacked by Hoost, Rex and the others were luckily not badly hurt

After sending them to Eris Church, ent to the Adventurer’s Guild

—Fine

“Megu They are the most untrustworthy creatures in the world You ing one’s soul for three wishes! Supposedly, several wizards lost their souls without having their wishes properly granted!”

I had already made my decision

“The deal with that fellow is definitely unreliable Once you hand Choo back on his word…!”

After that, I needed to deal with this…

“Megumin, your type of character is the best prey in the eyes of derant you the power of darkness…’, you would blindly follow that demon!”

This wench had been lecturing ue!

“I don’t want to hear it fro treated gently! What is the enius of the Hoic! I don’t need to be lectured by the lonely girl who is forever Nus!”

“Lonely girl who is forever Number 2!!”

Yunyun was on the verge of tears as she strangled ed her with some effort, I reached out my hand to calm her down

“W-Wait This is a big irl’ After all, since arriving in the city, you have gotten to know a strange old ht You have all kinds of friends I’ll upgrade you to easy girl who is forever Number 2”

“… I think ‘lonely girl’ is better…”

I thought aboutface with both hands and said

“Okay, let’s have a chat I should find sonoring it, I feel you would make some delinquent friends”

I said as I opened the door to the Adventurer’s Guild together with Yunyun, as still snuffling

“—In summary, Rex’s party was defeated by that demon”

“What should we do now!?” X3

My report sent the guild staff into a panic I dragged Yunyun to a table further in the guild

“Okay As expected, the guild is not dependable now Let’s evaluate our current situation”

Yunyun and I started our duo strategyat a table in the corner

“Current situation… The two most powerful parties in the city were defeated The life-saving arch priest cannot be found The country and other cities are on high alert because Dullahan, a leader of the de’s army, is currently active Thus, they cannot send any reinforcement And finally, that demon… is called Hoost? Anyway, there is no deadline for our response and trade, but I feel he won’t wait patiently though”

Yunyun said with a painful expression

Since there would be no reinforcement fronore the issue

And the life-saving arch priest could not be found

Then…

“Then the only option left is handing Choly to this! Even I have developed sos for that kid We can’t hand it over so easily!”

Yunyun said angrily and suddenly picked up Cho itself on the table I was puzzled by her

“… You really ree to the deal”

“Eh!? B-But on the way back to the city, you looked troubled and were deep in thought… Ah, could it be…”

“Oh please How could I possibly yield to threats? Crie I have made my resolve That is… the resolve to defeat that demon!”

“But even powerful parties like those of the faic sword user and Mr Rex were easily defeated! And e first u an idiot Surely you realize the difference in power between yourself and the opponent!?”

“Why are you being so sarcastic!? It’s obvious that the dereater than Anis But I have a way to destroy that de, I’m the only one in this city who can oppose that demon”

Hearing my words, Yunyun clenched her fists in silence

Then she slammed the table and stood up…!

“I… I don’t care anyh!?”

As Yunyun was about to run off so her to turn back

I s in confusion

“… We are friends, right?”

“You are asking ht!? We are rivals, not friends! If you think that I will do everything obediently just because you say we are friends, then you are wrong! But I’ happy about it!!”

PART 2

I caether with Yunyun, as still pouting

“I’e that kind of enemy Thus, I need to acquire some expedition fund first”

“… Expedition fund? But isn’t this where we live…”

Yes This was our usual hotel

“It’s slightly dangerous, so you shouldn’t come Please spend some time nearby”

“…? I don’t uet expedition fund…!?”

“It’s best for you not to ask Then, I’!”

“W-Wait! Could it be that you are really going to use your body…!!”

Hearing Yunyun’s voice behind me, I walked upstairs to a certain room in the hotel

Then I took a deep breath before the door

I strengthened my resolve and knocked twice on the door A familiar voice came from within

“Please enter”

I opened the door and saw Cecily sprawling on the bed andon some snacks

As I entered the roo pose and said

“Sis Cecily, please give me some money!”

“Tell your elder sister how much you need! What do you want to buy? A house? Want to buy a house and live together with elder sister? No problem See how I use my charms to seduce some rich adventurers!”

I hurriedly stopped Cecily as about to rush out of the room

“Nothing as exaggerated as buying a house! No I want to defeat that demon, so I need some expedition fund I remember you said that if that deht? Can I borrow a bit of that money?”

“I did say that before Although I was the one who ive up now I received additional information on that demon… Just earlier, one of the more powerful parties in this city was attacked by it and was sent to Eris Church”

Cecily said with a troubled look

“I just reported to the guild, yet you have heard of it already This itated to that extent…”

“No I saw the wounded were being healed when I went to throw rocks at the Eris Church I pestered them and said I won’t leave until they tell ave me all the details… Wait I couldn’t endure it even if you shower love on me like this!”

“Sigh Elder sister, please be more amiable! Don’t mess up the situation!!”

“(Cough)… Really You are being coy again, but I don’t dislike it though!”

Cecily tried to pacifyover

“Who is being coy!? You should… This?”

She handed over a heavy sack

“10,000,000 eris”

“Eh!?”

Hearing her casual words, I stared dumbly at the sack in my hand

“I-Is this really okay!? You gave it to me so easily! Aren’t you afraid I would run off with it!?”

Cecily listened to my queries

“I’ the character of people”

She said with a gentle smile

“Th-Then, didn’t you consider ould happen if I lose? By the way, did the sun rise from the west? You suddenly have such an attitude I don’t even kno to respond… Ugh!”

She then hugged htly

“No probleuarantee You will definitely win That’s right A cute and reliable Miss Megumin won’t possibly lose to demons”

“El-Elder sis…”

What should I do? I was a bit upset about it, but my eyes still became wet

Actually, I was uneasy about challenging such a powerful demon

At this tientle words from someone as usually unreliable…

“Okay Open the sack and take a look Please use these things properly!”

I struggled to hold back my tears and opened the heavy sack…

—There wasn’t any gold coin inside It was full of rocks and a piece of paper which said, “Just joking”

“Ha! Miss Megumin has been tearfully stunned It’s really too cute! Haha (Cough)… Really, why are you so cute!? Too bad, that’s… Ah, it’s ize, so please stop throwing rocks!!”

TL Note: Insert i

PART 3

After going downstairs, I saw Yunyun worriedly walking back and forth like a bear

“What are you doing, Yunyun? I told you to spend some time nearby”

“Meguful state!?”

After being noticed by Yunyun, I quickly wiped my tears away

“Th-This is—! No-Nothing!”

“Why is strong-willed Megu!? What happened!? You used that to acquire the so-called expedition fund!?”

I held on to my collars with both hands and shook them for Yunyun to see

“Here is 10,000,000 eris…”

“What did you do to earn a large sum of money like 10,000,000 eris!?”

Yunyun was on the verge of tears for some reason as she cried out in despair

“Please stop and caluumin would surely resolve this issue! So I specially prepared this to pull a prank on you when I give you the thank-you gift… Ah Stop, stop Don’t be angry!!”

I thought of what Cecily said earlier—

“… I don’t want to talk about it”

“Meguumin has been violated!”

I walked out of the hotel in exhaustion I didn’t even have the e

“—I say, Megu money is to defeat the dehteous cause, so there is no shaet money nobody will look down on you”

…… ……

“Yes After all, the one who is depressed is Meguh…”

“You are too irritating! Really You are too iinative You are always like that!! I didn’t sellto soed!”

“You said soed!? I-I think this was too umin cry merely because of that?”

I considered what she said

“After that… I was overwhelentle treatment, and I was so, so I rather not talk about it”

“As I thought!!”

… I should just ignore it

“Anyway, since I got the expedition fund, we should ht would be advantageous to us I need to go soic tool shop Buy everything you think is useful If you think there are other expenditures that benefit the fight, spend as you wish And… buy a black cat doll for me”

I said and stuff the sack full of gold coins into her hands

“Eh!? E-Even if you say so, suddenly giving me so much money…!”

And I left the rest to the bewildered Yunyun—

PART 4

“Please If we get the reward, you can have it all!”

“Do-Don’t be unreasonable It’s that deuy and Rex’s party were defeated, this is too much for us!”

I returned to the Adventurer’s Guild and approached various adventurers

“Ah Over there… I forgot your names, but ere in a party once! Then, you should knoerful I can be Want to defeat the deether!?”

“At least remember our names! No, no We refuse precisely because ere in a party before I feel ould be dragged into your ic as well…”

“R-Right And it’s all over if your ambit”

Da-damn it!

“Ah You there! Need an excellent wizard? I aic Clansman! I can be useful, so please help me…”

“No way We can’t deal with that demon! And we are sic Clan’s arch wizard joins us, the party would be soht?”

Even after I discarded ed everyone, nobody accepted my request This was because everyone knew of my bad reputation and the power of that demon

My plan was to let Yunyun acquire soic items that could restrict movements and then employ some defensive adventurers

If Hoost’s movement could be restricted, it would be ideal Even if we couldn’t defeat it, we could buy the employed adventurers some time and increase the distance for a one-hit kill

I thought that would work, but I was too naïve

… At this moment

“Uh—“

Someone spoke to me fearfully from behind

“You are the one who is alith that girl called Yunyun, right? We are not that strong, but if it is possible—“

I quickly turned towards the speaker…!

“Power doesn’tto help Oh, it’s you people! I’erous for commoners, so please stand aside! And don’t coain!!”

It was the idle uncle ould be drunk in broad daylight and approach Yunyun for chat, as well as other similar men

As I drove theuild became noisy

… What was happening?

I asked a random person nearby

“Uh, what is happening?”

“Hm It’s the matter with that demon Some weirdos declared they wanted to defeat it It was just a party with two uild Woah!? Wh-What are you doing!?”

“Where are they!? What do those two people look like!?”

“O-One of them should be a crusader? The other should be a thief… Both of thes like ‘Demons should die’ and ‘For a demon to come boldly to this city, watch me kill it!’ They went off after that”

If I came earlier, I could have invited those people…!

No Perhaps they would unexpectedly defeat it

“Sigh In the end, I couldn’t find anyone This is going to be difficult…”

PART 5

“How are things on your side? Found any useful ic items?”

“I went to various ic items recommended by the shops, but…”

Yunyun said and took out soic items that looked really familiar

“… They are doubtlessly created in the Hoic”

“… After all, the h quality…”

It was soic items at full pricese could have acquired thee However, since the products were ers, we could be assured of the quality

“By the here did you go? Were preparing for the fight?”

Hearing this, I looked away

“I wanted to find some helpers… but my recent fame had an opposite effect nobody responded…”

“It’s because of your usual behavior! No helper huh? What should we do? If wizards have no frontline fighter, ould be killed instantly by melee attacks!?”

I picked up Cho my feet as if I wanted to avoid reality

“Who do you think I aic Clan, user of Explosion ic! I could finish that kind of demon off before it comes close… Ah! Well done, Yunyun! Isn’t this an invisibility spell scroll? It would be easy with this!”

“I bought it anyway, but I don’t know if it would really be useful The opponent is a greater deht may be exposed anytime…”

Yunyunno plan of action

I carefully kept the scroll

“And the black cat doll that you asked for I don’t kno this thing would be useful…”

I tied Chomsuke in my arms to the doll

“Hey!”

“In this way, the doll would have Chomsuke’s scent After that, ill place this in the middle of somewhere nobody would come I will hide with the invisibility scroll When it was lured over by the doll, BOOM!”

“Wo-Would it proceed so smoothly… I say, it’s still not too late Let’s escape to another city…”

…It was unbelievable that Yunyun, who used to be so kind-hearted, would become so callous in less than a year

Unknowingly, this kid had grown in various ways

For now, let’s disregard whether it was a good way or not

I showed Chomsuke, as bound to the doll, to the anxious Yunyun and said

“It will be successful You are not the only one who has developed feelings for this shameless fur ball”

Besides…

“Although it was only for a short time, there are people in this city who have adventured with me This incident is because of me and this fur ball, so I must put an end to it!”

Watching my silhouette as I hed helplessly

“Really So reckless, so stubborn, and so over-assertive”

“Stop nagging You are still a pacifist coward, right?”

I replied without turning back There was a sound of so a deep breath

Then…

“… But you have changed a lot this year in terms of individualism and callousness”

Yunyun see softly

PART 6

After dinner, I returned toand knocked on Cecily’s door

“Elder sister, are you there?”

“Yes? Miss Megumin? Please come in The door isn’t locked”

After opening the door, I saw Cecily lying on the bed lazily

“You look rather tired Where were you playing after that?”

“So rude I was umin, so I did some rare work too”

Oh really…

“So may I ask what kind of as it?”

“Uh I went to Eris Church again…”

“Enough”

I was so stupid to ask that question

“Wait!? I really worked hard today!? I can only use siic, but in other words, this is my sole area of expertise! Then…”

“Enough Then you waited for the wounded to arrive at the Eris Church and ran over to intercept their business, right?”

“Miss Megumin is too much! That…! That… Eh? Actually, that isn’t a bad idea Let me write it down”

“Do it later I have so to discuss with you”

I showed Chomsuke, as released fro notes

“I wish to leave this kid with you for a while”

“… I don’t mind, but isn’t this the symbol of your cuteness? Is it okay to leave it with me?”

“It’s not a syht to this request just to be safe”

I put Cho on

Cecily ruffled its head as Choer’s scent

“This is a small matter Leave it to me I’ll teach it some tricks while I take care of it H cat?”

“Pl-Please don’t! Don’t teach it strange things!? Then, elder sister…”

“Call me Sis Cecily!”

“… Ce-Cecily, I’ll leave that kid to you”

Cecily seely accepted my ultimate compromise

I watched Cecily play with Chomsuke on the bed and left her room

“—Ah!? Megu in that place!?”

After leaving Cecily’s room, I ran into Yunyun as she was about to leave for some place

“There is an acquaintance in this roo at this time?”

Hearing my question, she looked away suspiciously

“L-Look We are adventurers too, so I thought it’s nice to visit the tavern at night”

“Yunyun has become a delinquent!”

“No It’s not like that! I’m just a bit curious!?”

Yunyun hurriedly responded as I cried out in surprise

“… Let’s go together then Letting the easily persuaded Yunyun go to the tavern alone at night is like letting a group of Onion Ducks walk pass ic for the day”

“N-No need to couild previously Nothing happened!”

Yunyun insisted on refusing my company

“Then, see you tomorrow!”

And rushed out into the streets at night

PART 7

“… I can’t sleep”

The battle would be tomorrow

Perhaps due to the nervousness, I found it difficult to fall asleep

Just a year ago, I was still going to school peacefully How did I end up having to fight a greater demon?

Thinking back, I had experienced a lot of adventures in the past year

Breaking the seal of the evil God, defeating the evil God’s reater demon Anis

And then now I’ht with the demon Hoost

My life hereafter as an adventurer probably wouldn’t have such a ain

What surprised me was that adventurers were people who frequently took on normal quests to make ends meet

The odd party that would be willing to recruit me probably did not exist Even if Hoost was defeated successfully, I would still…

I thought about this in the darkness and tucked my head beneath the blanket

This was not good My line of thought was beco bleaker

Truly, was I becoative because of tomorrow’s event?

As I thought on this, I noticed the sky was starting to brighten outside the

Or rather, it was today I ide awake such that I couldn’t sleep at all

I felt as if I had forgotten so very important…

What was it? I said tovery important… Eh, ah!

I forgot ic!

No wonder I couldn’t sleep As I was about to get up…

“Unlock”

A whisper was heard from outside the door The room became unlocked

What kind of pervert would pry open the room’s lock at this time?

Cecily’s appearance naturally flashed across my mind I turned my back to the door and pretended to sleep as I clenched my fist to strike at the intruder anytime

Finally, the door was gently opened

“… Megumin, are you asleep?”

I heard a soft, familiar voice My clenched fist relaxed

The intruder was Yunyun

What was this about? Why would she sneak into my room at this time?

It didn’t matter if I ake, but forsome reasons, I chose to pretend to be asleep

“… Megu Faced with that demon, you still refused to run away If it was me, I definitely would be so troubled that I couldn’t sleep”

I shouldn’t have pretended to be asleep

After hearing this, it was et up now…

As I was regretting ue softly

“I’ht this so-called ‘top genius’ was mentally retarded”

I wanted to pounce at her

“And then, when you were helping those Axis Cultists in Alcanretia with their foolish recruitment schemes… Really, really…”

At this point, Yunyun’s voice ceased

… Those times were my dark history, so I wished there weren’t too many reminders

“—But”

Sinceher in the dark, I wondered what Yunyun’s expressions were like now

“But with only the useless Explosion ic, you destroyed the evil God’s minions in one shot and then defeated Anis Now, you even plan to oppose that demon…”

Although I couldn’t see her, her current expression must be—

“I think the current Megumin is really cool, really powerful”

Must be really bashful

… Yes Just like the current me

If I got up now after hearing her ical scar

But if I didn’t say anything after hearing such honest confession, it was also…

TL Note: Insert i

“But Megumin, you should know it too Even if you hide with invisibility ic, your position would still be exposed by your e”

… At this moment, I couldn’t say that I didn’t even think about that

As I was feeling embarrassed and dispirited…

“Therefore…”

Yunyun’s tone suddenly changed

“So that I can continue to be Megumin’s rival, I will borrow this”

Yunyun said softly in a serious tone and picked so up

Even if I couldn’t see, I could guess what it was

It was probably the doll with Chomsuke’s scent, prepared as a bait for Hoost

Did she intend to lure and defeat Hoost before I could arrive?

But Yunyun shouldn’t have the finishi+ng move to defeat Hoost

No matter what, it was too reckless for her to do it alone

“I was in the tavern of the Adventurer’s Guild until now… For the first time, I took the initiative to ask to join a party”

……

“And it was one of the top adventuring parties in the city Mr Rex’s party When I said I wanted revenge on that dereed”

Those people?

But they should be badly wounded…

“If I was alone, I probably don’t have the courage to challenge it, but like this…”

I listened to Yunyun’s confession and considered when I should get up

“Then I’”

It was about time

I pretended to wake up and greeted her sleepily—

“Because you are my most io on a suicide mission Therefore…”

… I was speechless As I considered how I should respond…

“Sorry, Megumin”

Following the soft-spoken apology,

“Sleep”

An irresistible sleep ic assaulted me—

PART 8

“——!!”

I jumped out of my bed as I woke up

As I quickly took note of , I noticed that the sky outside was coht

Then as an evidence that it was not a drea

“You really did it! Froainst me, Yunyun!!”

Before anything else, the first thought infor her trap

She left early with a powerful party to defeat Hoost because she orried about me

Nor, but for me…!

“For a Crireatest insult to steal someone else’s show! Don’t think this is over!!”

As I was shouting, I grabbed my staff and rushed out of the room—!

“Ugh!?”

“!?”

As I rushed out of the door, I nearly ran right into Cecily

“Elder sister, sorry! The situation is urgent, I have to hurry!! I’ll leave first today!”

“Why are you hurrying? What happened that was so urgent?”

I didn’t have tinore her when she was right in front of me…!

I suppressed e to hurry and explained the situation Cecily tilted her head

“Uh The party that ith Miss Megumin’s friend to defeat the deht?”

“? Yes, that’s right Supposedly, they are a the more powerful party in the city…”

Cecily listened and said

“I healed them!”

She save a thumb-up

“… Ah?”

“I healed those people! Look, I said yesterday I worked hard, right? I went to Eris Church to disturb the in pain”

What was this? I had a bad premonition

“My faith in Lady Aqua was seeer than any Eris Cultist present The power of the Eris Cultists couldn’t heal those people enough for them to move Before the Eris Cultists, I healed theht if they endured the pain! At that time, the dissatisfied looks of those Eris Cultists were so awesome!!”

So she was responsible for co the situation!

Even Yunyun would not challenge the demon alone without a plan But—

Except for Rex’s party, other parties would refuse to challenge the demon even if Yunyun took the initiative to talk to them

Even so, Cecily only healed the wounded, so I couldn’t bla!

“I can’t wait anymore I must immediately…!”

At this rabbed my hand as I was about to run off

“Elder sister, I really don’t have the time to play with you now…”

I looked at Cecily’s expression and shat I wanted to say

She wasat me seriously

Finally—

“May the Goddess Aqua bless you! Blessing!”