Two people stepped out of the crowd.
Megumin puffed up proudly.
"Sensei, did you see the look in their eyes just now?"
"Told you I wasn't lying when I said I'm the number one genius girl in the Crimson Demon Clan."
Chishiya nodded flatly. "Yeah. So impressive."
"...Tch."
Megumin pouted.
Chishiya walked ahead, already thinking through what he was going to say when they arrived.
Honestly, this was his first time visiting someone else's parents. He was a little tense.
If they didn't approve of Megumin staying in the Labyrinth, it could get messy.
He needed to find a way to put them at ease.
Bribe them?
No, Chishiya shook his head.
"Even if they're poor, I doubt they'd take a payoff."
He needed them to feel like he was someone reliable—just by the way he acted.
Ten minutes later, they arrived in front of a small wooden house.
Chishiya knew Megumin's family wasn't well-off.
But seeing it in person… he realized he had still overestimated.
The place looked patched together from leftover firewood.
Knock knock knock.
Megumin took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Footsteps ran from inside.
The door creaked open, and a little girl peeked her head out.
Megumin knelt down and gently patted her head.
"Komekko, have you been a good girl while I was gone?"
Komekko stared blankly at Megumin.
"…Komekko?"
Megumin tilted her head.
Komekko suddenly locked eyes with Chishiya, who was standing behind her.
Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a deep breath.
"DAD! SIS BROUGHT A GUY HOME!"
Megumin: "EEEEHHHH?!"
Chishiya: "...???"
—Living Room—
The tiny room felt cramped as everyone gathered around the low table.
A quiet, awkward atmosphere settled in.
Komekko sat between Hyoizaburoo and Yuiyui, watching the scene with wide, curious eyes.
Yunyun looked up. "Why is Megumin here?"
"That's my line!"
Megumin jumped up and flicked Yunyun's forehead hard.
"What are you doing in my house?!"
Yunyun didn't back down. "Obviously, I'm here to challenge you to a duel!"
"I've fulfilled our promise!"
"I've mastered advanced magic, Megumin!"
"Time for a rematch!"
Megumin: "Huh?! Who said I'd compete with you?! You never win anyway!"
Yunyun turned red like an angry squirrel.
"N-not true! I've won a few times!"
Ahem.
Hyoizaburoo cleared his throat, interrupting the chaos.
Yunyun immediately remembered where she was and slumped back into her seat.
"R-right… sorry for shouting…"
"…"
Hyoizaburoo shifted his gaze to Chishiya, looking him up and down.
"So, you're Chishiya?"
"You look pretty young. From the way she wrote it in her letter, I thought you'd be some old geezer."
Wait, what?!
Yunyun blinked and finally looked properly at the boy next to Megumin.
This was Chishiya?
She'd assumed he'd be some middle-aged uncle.
After all, anyone using Explosion Magic had to be ancient, right?
Hyoizaburoo continued, arms folded.
"I heard you're teaching my daughter magic."
Chishiya nodded.
"That's right."
Hyoizaburoo's expression turned sharp.
"You can use Explosion Magic at your age… That makes you a genius by normal standards."
"But let me tell you something harsh."
"Even the lowest-tier Crimson Demon can outperform most human mages."
"Yet, none of them study Explosion Magic. Know why?"
Chishiya didn't answer.
He already knew. Too many downsides. One-use. Huge mana drain. Terrible efficiency.
Megumin kept her head down.
Hyoizaburoo went on.
"This ridiculous magic that can only be used once a day isn't suitable for anyone."
"However…"
He looked directly at Chishiya.
"She's poured in far more effort than others for the sake of this useless spell."
"Maybe only she understands what that kind of loneliness feels like."
"So if you're just treating Explosion Magic like some kind of joke…"
"Then don't waste her time."
"I don't want my daughter's dedication turned into someone else's comedy skit."
"…"
Chishiya didn't respond immediately. He glanced over at Megumin.
She was still looking down, fists clenched, shoulders trembling.
Of course.
No one likes seeing something they love treated like it's worthless.
That's probably what she's dealt with all her life.
And if even the people she respects think her passion is a joke…
No one could endure that.
Hyoizaburoo understood his daughter well.
He truly cared.
Chishiya took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
"I don't think her dedication is a joke."
"In fact, I think it's incredible—choosing to dedicate yourself to what you love."
"She's already doing something I've never managed."
He turned to Megumin and met her gaze.
Her eyes were full of tears.
Then she suddenly threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Sensei!!! Uuuuwahhhh—!!!"
Chishiya: "Hey! You're getting snot on my new robe!"
Hyoizaburoo's brow relaxed slightly. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Darkness also looked visibly impressed.
"As expected. Now I really can recommend him to Her Highness Iris without worry."
Yunyun sniffled, wiping her eyes discreetly.
Yuiyui giggled behind her hand.
"Dear, I think our daughter found someone she can rely on."
"Hmph?!" Hyoizaburoo frowned. "It's way too soon to say that!"
"What if this guy's just some third-rate magician?"
Darkness calmly answered.
"Mr. Hyoizaburoo, you can rest easy."
"Chishiya-san is not a third-rate anything."
"He single-handedly defeated a Demon King Army general. He's a very capable man."
"That's actually why I came to meet him."
…
As Darkness finished speaking, silence fell over the room.
The only ones who knew about that battle were her and Chishiya.
Everyone else had been far away in Axel when it happened.
"Wait, what?!"
Megumin instantly stopped crying.
She grabbed Chishiya by the collar and shook him violently.
"Sensei! You went and fought a Demon King general without me?!"
"That's unforgivable!"
Chishiya sighed. "Weren't you grinding levels at the time?"
"Didn't I promise I'd bring you next time?"
Megumin ground her teeth. "Tch…"
"Still not fast enough… How many generals are left?!"
Watching her sulk, Chishiya reached out and gently patted her head.
Relax, little girl.
Very soon, I'll take you to other worlds where you can finally cut loose.
(To be continued.)
***
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