The early morning Crimson Demon Village was wrapped in a faint mist, but that peace was quickly shattered by farewell cries overflowing with chuunibyou energy.
At the village entrance, hundreds of Crimson Demon Clan villagers stood in perfect formation, striking all kinds of twisted yet stylish poses.
Some covered one eye with a hand, some let their capes whip wildly in the air, and some even burned magic first thing in the morning just to set off colorful dud fireworks in the background for atmosphere.
"Farewell, Heroes from Fantasy World! May your journey be filled with explosions and chuunibyou!"
"Megumin! If things don't work out out there, come back! The village sweet potato fields will always have a place for you!"
Megumin carried her signature staff on her back, muttering with a look of disgust, "Honestly, enough already. These people are hopeless," but the faint redness at the corners of her eyes gave away how she really felt.
Yunyun stood nervously behind Kōichi with a bundle on her back bigger than she was, her fingers constantly twisting the hem of her clothes. She looked both excited and anxious. After all, this was her first time formally traveling with everyone as a companion.
Just as the group was about to board the carriage heading for the teleportation array in the neighboring village, the chief of Crimson Demon Village, the old man who always wore extravagant robes and styled himself as the strongest leader, suddenly walked over with a serious expression. Without a word, he threw an arm around Kōichi's shoulders and dragged him into the shadow behind the carriage.
"Hey, Chief, is there something you can't say in front of everyone? Aqua's already biting Kazuma's thigh in the carriage because she didn't get the window seat. I need to go break that up."
Kōichi tried to free himself, somewhat helplessly.
But the village chief looked grave. He glanced around suspiciously, then leaned close to Kōichi's ear and lowered his voice.
"Kōichi-dono, listen carefully. Last night, after getting drunk, that Hyoizaburoo fellow was bragging that the dead-fish-eyed shut-in in your Party seems close to conquering his precious daughter, Megumin. She even handed over management of her Skill Points to him?"
The village chief suddenly grew agitated. He gripped Kōichi's shoulders with both hands, his eyes burning with a fire that could only be called competitive spirit.
"As the chief of the Crimson Demon Clan, I absolutely cannot allow that Hyoizaburoo to beat me when it comes to the quality of our sons-in-law! Look at my daughter, Yunyun. Whether it's her figure, her magical power, or that slightly pitiful loneliness that makes people want to take care of her, she's top-class even among the Crimson Demon Clan, isn't she?!"
"Huh? Wait, Chief, isn't that a huge leap in logic?"
"You may not refuse! This is for the honor of the Crimson Demon Clan!" The village chief patted Kōichi heavily on the chest, his tone so solemn that he sounded as if he were entrusting him with the future of an entire kingdom. "Listen well. As the captain, you absolutely cannot lose to one of your own Party members! Yunyun may have a bit of trouble socializing, but she's actually a very easy girl to win over. Say three sentences to her every day, and she'll be so touched she'll want to marry you! So... I officially entrust my daughter to you! Crush that dead-fish-eyed guy in romance for me!!"
With that, the village chief gave Kōichi no chance to argue. He performed a spectacular backflip straight back into the crowd, waving as he shouted.
"Set out, young ones! Go create your own harem... no, your own legend!!"
Kōichi stood there, looking at Yunyun, who was blushing furiously after being teased by Megumin and casting him a pleading look. Then he glanced at Kazuma Satou inside the carriage, who was giving him a lecherous hehehe grin, and could only let out a long sigh.
"Seriously, from top to bottom, there isn't a single normal person in this village."
He walked back to the carriage and dropped into the seat across from Kazuma. Kazuma immediately leaned in, raising his eyebrows with a gossipy look.
"Hey, Kōichi, what did the village chief say to you? He had the look of a father-in-law sizing up his son-in-law. Is he trying to betroth Yunyun to you?"
Kōichi shot him a sidelong look and sneered.
"Yeah. He also told me to do my best and never lose to a loser like you who can't even fix those dead-fish eyes."
The carriage creaked along the bumpy road, but the atmosphere inside instantly heated up at the mention of the bounty.
"Hey, Kōichi, have you done the math?"
Kazuma Satou pulled an old little notebook from his clothes and scribbled madly with a charcoal pencil, his eyes glowing with greed.
"Sylvia was a General in the Demon King's Army. Based on the Adventurers Guild's bounty standards, plus the special reward from Crimson Demon Village... when we get back, we can claim at least this much!"
He held up three fingers in front of Kōichi, his voice trembling.
"Three hundred million Eris! A full three hundred million! After paying off Aqua's debts, the rest will be enough for us to buy a real mansion in Axel, hire ten maids to take turns feeding me grapes every day, and live the kind of useless life where I never have to lift a finger again!"
"Huh? Three hundred million?" Kōichi raised an eyebrow. He had been mentally prepared, but hearing the number still made his heart speed up. "In that case, I'll start by renting out the most expensive blacksmith shop in Axel and reinforcing all my gear with fine gold. As for the rest... maybe I'll buy a plot of land on the outskirts and build a training ground specifically for bullying you."
"Who wants that?! You should invest that money somewhere more meaningful!"
Aqua, who had somehow stopped crying, cut in with righteous indignation.
"Forget all that and hurry up so we can claim the bounty! I want to buy that bottle of Ragnarök sparkling wine that costs one million Eris! And I'm buying out all the fried chicken in the Guild! If you don't satisfy me, I'll stuff mustard up your nostrils while you're sleeping!"
"I want the newest magic-amplifying staff!" Megumin waved her little fist from the back row. "One of the finest quality, strong enough to endure the magical flow of my Explosion Magic! That way, after I fire it off, the staff won't overheat and burn my hand!"
"If it were me... I'd like to buy a set of heavy armor with barbs and binding effects..."
Darkness blushed as red as a ripe tomato, hugging herself and twisting her body.
"Preferably the kind that makes strange sounds the moment a monster touches it... Ah, just thinking about it..."
"Enough! Shut up, you perverted Knight!"
Kōichi, Kazuma, and Megumin shouted in unison.
Amid all the chaos, the carriage passed through a dense forest and crossed a clear stream.
At last, on the far horizon, the familiar beginner's town of Axel slowly revealed its outline, full of the everyday bustle of life.
"We're finally back."
Kōichi looked at the towering city walls, and a faint, unexpected sense of belonging rose in his chest.
As the carriage slowly rolled through the city gate and that familiar smell of cheap ale mixed with adventurer sweat hit them, everyone inside burst into excitement.
"We're home! Axel! Aqua-sama has returned! Fools, come out and welcome your Goddess!"
Aqua jumped straight out of the carriage window and ran wildly down the street, drawing looks from passersby as if they were watching a madwoman.
Kōichi kicked open the doors of the Adventurers Guild, and the adventurers inside, who had been drinking and boasting, all turned their heads at once.
"Hey, everyone! We're back!" Kōichi announced loudly. "And we brought back the head of Sylvia, a General in the Demon King's Army!"
The entire Adventurers Guild fell silent for three seconds.
Then it erupted in earth-shaking cheers.