"Is there a problem?" Shichen asked Yunyun with a slight smile.
"That… Did I hear you correctly, sir? Are you saying I can help deal with the monsters too?" Yunyun asked hesitantly, unable to believe her ears.
"That's right, you didn't mishear." Shichen smiled and nodded.
"Wh-why?"
"Aren't you a mage? Two people are better than one, right?"
"Well, that's certainly true…" Yunyun looked torn, as if she were both scared and uncertain.
"Are you lacking confidence?" Shichen asked gently, shaking his head.
"S-sorry…" Yunyun bowed her head in shame.
"No need to worry." Shichen patted her on the shoulder, offering comfort.
"?" Yunyun raised her head, looking at him in confusion.
"Believe in yourself. You just took out one of those giant digging worms with a single Fireball, didn't you?"
"M-maybe that was just a fluke…"
"That was no fluke. That's your real capability. Now those people outside are in trouble—would you be okay watching them fall in danger?"
"Ugh…"
"Besides, I'll protect you. Go ahead and deal with the monsters as you like. Don't you want to get stronger?"
"B-but… am I really capable of it?" Yunyun asked, her eyes brimming with hesitation as she looked at Shichen. She felt her heart rate climb a bit—her face, adorable as it was, grew slightly flushed.
He was a total stranger, but he was a great mage, so strong and handsome, and he believed in her. She couldn't help feeling flustered.
"I wouldn't lie to you."
"Shichen-san, w-why are you being so kind to me?"
"I see so much potential in you, I just can't help giving you a hand," Shichen replied.
"T-that's amazing, as expected of a great mage!" Yunyun looked at him in admiration.
"Hmph! What do you mean 'great mage?' He's obviously a boob maniac!" Just then, Megumin, who had mostly recovered, suddenly interjected.
"Huh?" Yunyun blinked in surprise, glancing self-consciously at Shichen.
Shichen didn't bother explaining right away. Instead, he glanced at Megumin with a mocking expression. "Megumin, right? Are you jealous or something?"
"Huh?! Me, jealous?! Over what?" Megumin erupted like a startled cat, instantly jumping up to retort.
Shichen snorted. Perhaps he'd been infected by Seriai's mannerisms. "Heh, I noticed earlier—when trouble came up, you were useless and only made things worse for Yunyun. Aren't you both from the Crimson Demon Clan? How can two people from the same place be so different?"
Both had black hair and red eyes, clearly from the Crimson Demons. Born with high magical power and intelligence, any Crimson Demon could become a top-tier mage. In theory, these giant worms should be no problem for them. But Megumin's performance was abysmal. Of course, Shichen knew the reason, but that didn't stop him from jabbing at her. She was the one who called him a boob maniac, after all.
"I—I wasn't making trouble!" Megumin's comeback clearly lacked confidence. "I just don't go all out so casually. If I got serious, I'd wipe out all those puny monsters in seconds! Since you know about the Crimson Demons, you must realize how awesome I am."
"Then go do it now," Shichen replied flatly, pointing to the many giant digging worms surrounding the carriage. "Or was that just talk?"
"Eek…"
Caught sight of the worms, gaping maws and dripping slime, Megumin squirmed, feeling nauseous.
"I-it's better if I don't waste my shot on them! My big finishing move needs to be saved, you see, in case something bigger shows up!"
"Heh, I almost believed you."
"U-um…" Yunyun tugged carefully at Shichen's sleeve, as if afraid.
"What's the matter?"
"Megumin is actually… well, she really is strong…" Yunyun said in a small voice, trying to speak up for her.
Shichen sighed. "Fine, don't worry about it. I can see she's basically a dead weight."
"Wha—you! You dare call me dead weight?! I can't let that slide. You want to see what I can do?! Fine, I'll show you right now!" Megumin huffed angrily, clutching her staff, ready to march out of the carriage.
But Yunyun hastily grabbed her and held her back. "Megumin! No! That sort of spell will catch everyone in it!"
"Outta my way! This boob maniac is looking down on me—I gotta show him!"
"Who are you calling a boob maniac?!"
With no warning, Shichen flicked Megumin lightly on the forehead—so hard it nearly knocked her hat off.
"Ow! That hurt!" Megumin rubbed her stinging forehead, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes as she flopped back onto her seat.
Shichen had flicked her with a surprising amount of force.
"Megumin… are you okay?" Yunyun asked, worried.
"Of course not! Yunyun, avenge me!"
"U-um…" Yunyun glanced nervously at Shichen, who just ignored her.
Turning from Yunyun, Shichen looked to the overweight merchant. "Anyway, about outside—should we help them? It seems like they're having trouble."
"Yes—please…" He nodded repeatedly.
Shichen gave a little nod, then said to Yunyun, "Let's go. We should help them."
"R-right!"
He placed a hand on her shoulder, using his space-manipulating magic to step outside the barrier.
Those who had been fighting the worms noticed them.
"What have you two been doing?! Hurry up and help!"
"That blue barrier thing is blocking us out—what is it? We can't get in!"
"Just take care of these damn monsters!"
"Rooaaargh—!"
Snarling as they slithered, the giant digging worms lunged at once. Seeing them approach, Yunyun shivered.
"Don't worry." Shichen gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Just concentrate on shooting Fireballs—I'll protect you. Trust yourself, okay? Your magic is plenty powerful."
"Shichen-san…" Yunyun's heart warmed at his reassuring smile. Then she lowered her gaze. "Th-thank you. I understand."
"All right, let's take out the rest quickly. And my name's Shichen—just call me that."
"G-got it, Shichen."
With renewed determination, Yunyun bombarded the giant worms with Fireball. One after another, they collapsed or exploded. However, unleashing so many spells drained Yunyun's mana. After defeating the majority of them, she realized how exhausted she was.
"I-I did it…"
Her strength failing, Yunyun nearly collapsed. Shichen hurriedly put an arm around her, catching her before she fell.
"You worked hard," he commended.
"Shichen-san…" Yunyun murmured, gazing up at him with gratitude—only for Megumin's shrill voice to ring out:
"See, you claim you're not a boob maniac, but look at you!"
Shichen turned and found Megumin—carrying her little black cat—approaching with the rest of the group. She was glaring fiercely.
"M-Megumin, Shichen-san isn't like that!" Yunyun hastily tried to stand up for him.
"What?"
Megumin looked stunned, then scowled at him. "So after just a short time, you've already swept Yunyun off her feet, you boob maniac?!"
~~~
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