"I am not weird! This is the typical greeting of the Crimson Demons!" Megumin says with balled fists.
"Wait, does that mean you're related to the Demon King?" Nicole asks while taking a slow drag.
"No, Crimson Demons are the mortal enemy of the Demon King. We just call ourselves demons because it's cool."
"Oh my God, and I thought Kazuma was a perfect copy of Jeffery…" Jecka says with her hands over her face.
"Does this Jeffery friend of yours know the most powerful spell, Explosion?!"
"Not our friend, and depends on what kind of Explosion we're talking about." Nicole says.
"He knows another form of Explosion?!"
"Yeah, but it's usually done indoors where we're from." Jecka says getting a stifled laugh from Nicole. Megumin looks at them puzzled.
"…I feel like your making fun of Explosion…and how can it be effective if it has to be cast indoors? That is literally the opposite ideal condition for that spell."
"I mean does it matter? You got other spells you can use right?" Nicole asks and Megumin glances to the side before flicking her cape.
"When one has learned the most powerful spell, all other forms of magic are but a distraction!"
"So you're unable to learn other spells?" Jecka asks.
"No, I refuse to learn other spells!" Megumin says, leaving Nicole and Jecka quiet.
"Can it kill giant toads?" Nicole asks.
"It can vanquish any foe!"
"Eh, good enough for a test run. Let's go." They head out to the field where there is a toad sunbathing.
"…It almost looks cute." Jecka says.
"Yeah, like a Chihuahua that just got rabies."
"Chu wawa?" Megumin asks.
"Ugly dog where we're from…aren't you going to blow it up?" Nicole asks.
"I have not heard a better question yet!" Megumin skips a few steps to get in range before twirling her staff.
"Breath of giants from ages past, heed my call and smite my foe with the antithesis of creation! Remind this world once more of-"
"…She's calling on the power of bad breath?" Nicole asks.
"No I think it's a chant thing mages do. It's how they cast their spells."
"Did that guy chant before cooking the toads?"
"No, but that was from a God so there's probably differences and-"
"EXPOLSION!"
A deafening clap and the gust of wind nearly blows them back, the array of lights stunning the pair of them as a crater is formed where the hapless toad stood. Nicole and Jecka stand up, moths open in sheer shock.
"Oh my God…she wasn't kidding about the magic!"
"That can totally kill blue bitch and that other guy! We're…uh…oh no." Nicole says, her amazement quickly wearing when she sees Megumin face first in the ground. They go over and look at her.
"Think she's dead?" Jecka asks.
"I'm not dead…"
"Then get up, I see toads coming." Nicole says while looking at a few of them emerging from the ground.
"I can't…I used up all my mana." Megumin says.
"What does mana have to do with you not moving?"
"Mana is used first when casting magic. But if someone doesn't enough mana, their energy can be used to make up the difference. I only have enough mana and energy to use that glorious spell once before becoming like this…"
"What?! You can only use that spell once a day?! Why don't you learn another spell?" Jecka asks.
"Because Explosion is the best magic! Can one of you carry me?"
"Leave her." Nicole says and starts walking away. Jecka looks at Nicole walk away, down to Megumin unable to move, and the approaching toads.
"Please don't leave me…"
Jecka leans down and hefts up Megumin running her in with one hand and starts running.
"Jecka what the fuck? We could have ditched her and leisurely walked back!"
"You were seriously going to leave me?!" Megumin asks.
"Wouldn't you?!"
"No!"
"Lying flat brat!" Nicole says as they all run.
"You're calling me a brat for not wanting to die?! And leave my chest alone!"
"Death isn't that bad and I doubt you'll ever have the chance to say that again!" Nicole says, making Megumin gasp.
"This is seriously not the time, we have frogs after us!" Jecka shouts.
"Toads." Nicole says.
"What-fucking-ever! They're gonna kill us unless we-wait! Why don't you kill them?!"
"Blue bitch is only good at healing!"
"Use another bitch!"
"What are you two talking ab-" Megumin screams when a toad tongue grabs her and pulls her back.
"D-didn't blue bitch mention a fire Goddess called Pyro or something? Use her spells!" Jecka asks as another toad lands in front of them.
"I don't know fire spells!"
"J-just say fireball! That's what those dnd geeks say!"
===
A redheaded woman in jeans, t- shirt, and a leather jacket is napping peacefully on a blanket under a tree. She opens her eyes and stretches her arms above her head before standing up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Faking illness to get out of work was the best idea I had in years~." She says while flicking her long lock of hair behind her. She brings out a thermos and takes a sip. She places her hand at the bottom to warm it up.
"Shame I won't be able to do it again for another century and-"
Her wrist bends backwards with a crack, dropping the thermos, the back of her hand now touching her forearm. Pyra looks at her hand, crimson eyes now dots, her cheeks blanching. Then the pain registers.
"Is this punishment for faking illness!? Make it stop!" She screams before going to her knees, her arm further bending backwards like rolled up dough.
===
"Fire ball! Fire ball! Fire ball!" Nicole keeps yelling at the downed toad corpse. Jecka holds a crying Megumin with two fingers, covering her nose with her other hand.
"You…need a bath…"
"You know what the worst part is?"
"Other than your smell?"
"It was actually pretty comfy in there…Like a warm blanket during winter…" Megumin says. Nicole eventually walks back.
"I'm done for the day. Least we got the quest done."
"…There has to be something easier than this…" Jecka says.
As they walk back into town, people look at the trio. Mostly at Megumin who glistens in the sunlight and nearly knocks out anyone passing near them like a wet handbag of rotten meat. Low laughter draws their attention at the guild entrance. A small distance away is Kazuma sipping tea with the most pretentious pinky out.
"Having trouble~?" He asks.
"Not as much as you."
"I'm not the one that reeks."
"Neither am I, so fuck off." Nicole says.
"Come now, I'm just worried how my fellow rookie adventurers are doing~ Tell me, how many quests have you finished today? Certainly it wasn't just 1? I did 4~." Kazuma says while fanning himself before taking a bite of steak.
Megumin looks at him in amazement.
Nicole and Jecka look at each other and nod.
They walk away, balling their fists as Kazuma laughs at them. They hand in the quest note and get paid. They do the math and give Megumin her share before giving her the bad news.
"Sorry Meg, you don't quite make the cut. But we know someone who would love to have you." Nicole says and Megumin smiles.
They walk outside and sit at Kazuma's table, making his smirk grow wider.
"Oh? Are you actually asking me to help you? Well this is a funny turn of events isn't it?" Kazuma asks with a pained expression from Megumin's smell.
"Don't call him a spineless virgin who couldn't get a woman on his own…yet." Nicole thinks with a fake smile on her lips.
"Yes, we are." Nicole says and Kazuma's smile falls.
"…What are you planning bitch?"
"W-wait, is this the guy?" Megumin asks.
"Yes. He may look a piece of crap, but he's just an awkward loner in need of friends." Jecka says.
"I am neither of those things you bimbo!"
"I have morals! I said no to doing feet stuff." Jecka says.
"Wow. Truly an inspiration. A symbol of D cup purity."
"It's a C cup." Nicole says, leaving Kazuma quiet a moment.
"…Just tell me how you want my help and I'll draft up some terms~."
"Wow…saying stuff like that so brazenly and you wonder why we mistook you for a rapist."
"N-not those kind of terms!"
"You expect us to believe that's not what you meant?" Nicole asks.
"Yeah it seriously sounded like half the stories on Redtube, especially all the school girl getting a better grade one…" Jecka says.
"Sure you aren't speaking from experience?" Kazuma asks.
"No, but that might have been better than Olive Garden." Jecka says and Kazuma looks at her very confused.
"What does a garden full of olives have to do with- never mind, I was thinking more like our prior talk… with you know who…" Kazuma says.
"No need to be shy Kazuma, your new party member should know that you were chosen by the Gods." Nicole says, making Megumin look at Kazuma with sparkles in her eyes and Kazuma blanch.
"By the Gods?!"
"Yes, he has amazing magical powers, got them directly from a God. You can learn a lot by watching him~." Jecka says.
"You…this was your-" Kazuma stops when Megumin sits up and gets close to his face, smiling fully while bringing the horrible smell closer.
"I was top of my class in the Red Prison, I promise to pull my weight when it matters and-"
"H-hold on there kiddo, I-" He stops when Megumin looks dejected.
"To crush a young girl's heart, and deny helping out a fellow adventurer. You really are all talk…how terrible of you." Nicole says her grin making Kazuma ball his fists.
"If you think I'll stay patient forever you have another-" A stomach growling interrupts them. Megumin looks away.
"…I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, but I got paid! So I'll probably have to choose between the stables and dinner, or a bed and water soup…" Megumin says with an awkward smile. Kazuma looks her over before handing her a menu.
"I have more Eris than I know what to do with yet. Order something." Kazuma says and Megumin smiles with an open mouth.
"Truly all the makings of a hero~." Nicole says.
"I'm ordering only for her, the rest of you beat it before I-" Kazuma before Megumin jumps at Kazuma. He looks at the approaching Crimson demon with wide eyes, unable to move as she crashes into him, spilling his lunch, and soiling his clothes.
"Oh God, that smell! Get away from me!"
"Thank you for letting me join your party! I'll carry your bags!"
"I don't need a bag carrier, I need air! What the Hell is this fluid?!" Kazuma yells out while trying to peel Megumin away from him.
"Enjoy the new party member, no need to thanks us, we both know this is the only way you'd get a girl to get on top of you~." Nicole says with a smile before leaving.
She chuckles while hearing Kazuma try to pry the horrid smelling Megumin away, only to frown when someone stand before her.
"Are you the one responsible for leaving that young woman in such a state?"
"Technically no…it was the giant toad." Jecka says.
"You let your companion be eaten by a monster?"
"I would, but Jecka had a change of heart."
"She didn't deserve that Nicole."
"To flat out admit to leaving a party member be devoured by a monster…and not even show a hint of remorse towards her but instead throw her to an uncouth man like a piece of meat to the wolves…"
"I am not uncouth! And where did you find this strength!?" Kazuma shouts with Megumin latching onto his shoulders.
"Oh God, are you going to lecture me about 'morals' and 'treating people nicely'?" Nicole asks with a roll of her eyes while gesturing to Jecka to give her a cigarette.
"Don't have one." Jecka says while smoking a cigarette.
"Are you seriously going to bullshit me while-" Nicole stops when the blonde woman grabs her by the shoulders, face near hers, cheeks red as fire and a hint of drool at her lips.
"I would never ask you to change your ways. You're perfect~."
"What?" Jecka, Nicole, and Kazuma ask at the same time.
"My name is Darkness and I must join your party!"