Hello, everyone . I know It's been around one year that I didn't uplaud anything but I wasn't feeling like writing for a while so it was better to pause the story instead of forcing myself to continue.

I completely understand if no one is following this story anymore but if there is still somebody out there caring about the next chapter, here it is .

Good reading.

Chapter 16 : Unexpected encounter

The sweet sound of the rice cooker is acting like a lullbaby as I just stand idle in the kitchen waiting for it to finish cooking.. My eyelids are constantly closing by themselves, every atom in my sleep deprived body is telling only one thing : ''Go back to sleep !''

It's close to look like one of those weekdays where I would ''attempt'' to attend school . And I said, close because there's one major difference.

How to phrase that..

Let's say that yesterday night, my mind was filled with sweet Megumin filled memories and wild imaginations that prevented me to sleep for a long long time.

Yeah let's say it this way, it is more poetic

''beep ! Beep !''

The rice cooker finally rang, signaling the end of the timer, slowly, I grabbed four servings of it.

Mechaniquily I pour tea in cups, matching the number of rice bowls as I group everything in a singular plate, depositing it on the living room's kokatsu.

The girls are not awake yet, Aqua is sleeping on the living room sofa in a funny and unfeminine way as Yunyun and Megumin are sleeping together on my parent's bed.

By the way, I'm making rice for everyone mostly driven by the fear of the potential scene of these three crazy girls trying to ''cook food'' by themselves in a modern kitchen. The mere thought of the scale of what the consequences would be is making me shake..

I dig up slowly in my food, still half asleep as one by one, the magic crew finally join me under the kokatsu, quickly shallowing the offered meal in a near perfect silence.

Eventually Yunyun raised her head from her rice bowl and began inspecting my face for some reason.

''Kazuma ?''

I don't even bother voicing a response, only my head shifts to her direction, communicating a reaction of some sort.

''It seems you had a rough time with Megumin''

''I could've helped you better with that, knowing her, that could have been even worse than just fatigue, esteem yourself lucky to not have died tagging along with that explosion maniac''

'' !?…..''

I can feel my face being warped with surprise and uncomprension, is she implying what I'm thinking she does? And foremost what does she mean by I could've helped you better with that ?

Does Yunyun is trying to hit on me ?!

''The-there is no way you can provide a better training than me, I'm the most powerful archmage of this dimension remember ?''

This time, Megumin maintained the conversation, talking with an uncertain and insecure voice .

Obviously it looks like a lie, I mean, there is no way that what Megumin is telling is correct with that kind of face and attitude.

If I was to guess ''the training'' is the excuse about why we were just nowhere to be found in the house for at least one hour yesterday when we were ''interacting'' with each other in the shower

To not be suspicious at that time I asked Megumin to get out of the shower ahead of me as I let the water run for a while , faking to be showering .

I can't really say for sure but Aqua and Yunyun must have grew suspicious and must've questioned Megumin about her absence while for my part ,I just retreated in my bedroom for the rest of the night thinking it was a good idea to let the witches to have their girl time

''It is not what is telling his face, look how tired he seems to be''

Sadly Yunyun does not seem contented with Megumin's comment as she pointed directly at me, mocking my current appearance.

''!''

Before I could even respond, Megumin hit my elbow under the kokatsu, seeming panicked that I could potentially spill the beans without knowing it .

''Yeah she didn't spare me at all..'' I add with a casual tone, taking a sip of tea.

I don't know what megumin told them so I cannot give any precise information about this fake training session or we might not be in sync.

''Then next time you should definitively spare with me, at least I can teach more than just explosion spells, not like a certain someone...''

I don't even know if we can use magic in this world but if that is the case it may be a good idea, learning some of her skills could be profitable as I may become more versatile. It may change the current subject of the conversation too and that is definitively a good thing.

'' It is not a bad idea, maybe next time... By the wa- ?!''

Before I could finish my sentence another kick coming from megumin, way stronger than before, make my whole body quiver in pain

A quick look at her reveals an obvious annoyance, she seems clearly pissed off about something and I seem to be the main cause of that said annoyance.

The two remaining girls look at me with concern, not understanding what caused my sudden silence.

''..''

Whatever I said wrong to anger Megumin. It would be wiser to ignore it for now.

''By the way did you tried using your magic power since you've entered this world yet ?''

Desperatively trying to change the subject I ask Aqua and Yunyun as they turn their head toward each other, then back at me.

''Not really why ?''

Do I really need to answer that question...If we want to go back to their world we will probably need magic to make that possible if that is not obvious enough yet.

''Just to know.''

I finally raise up with my rice bowl in hand, faking to go washing it to allow myself to think about what to do concerning Megumin and our little shover secret.

First off, we were supposed to be training, but if anyone discovered that it was impossible to achieve due to our lack of magic capacity the lie will be discovered.

''…''

Why am I even bothering about the '' it will be discovered'' part ? We are going out so of course we are supposed to be doing other things than just holding hands right?

I don't know... something feels like it's forbidden for me to ''interact'' with megumin that way, like if it was mandatory for me to not be discovered together.

''….''

As a response to my internal question, the word lolicon quickly flashes into my mind for a second, leaving me an idea of what Aqua or anyone that like to criticize, would characterise my relation with Megumin.

Ahhh..I guess it can't be helped, what I felt was too incredible, too intense for me to give up on it. Also, I enjoy her younger, cute appearance too much now..

''Beauty of the nature !''

Aqua's merry voice, accompanied with the sound of splashing water comes to my ears, knowing what it's all about I run back immediately but.

It is already too late.. A small pond is forming in the living room as water emanates from aqua by medium sized sprays, The carpet is literally under water, the sofa is so drenched that it changed color and the kokatsu started to drift away.

I knew it was not a good idea.. I knew but I still let them in ! Look at the state of this place now!

''Look Kazuma magic work just fine !''

Aqua turned to me, commenting happily as her joyful face quickly fill with fear and anticipation of my upcoming reaction.

''Oh.. I see.. it works right ?.. let's check..shall we''

Time for punishment.

''SSSTEAL !''

''Kyaaaa! nooo !''

The fabric materializing into my hand, the feeling of a latent warmness due to recent usage, that blue and white stripes pattern ... Those panties are close to being as valuable as Megumin's one!

''bam!''

Before I could devour with my eye that piece of cloth my head got a hard taste of Megumin's wand colliding right on the top of my head.

Well.. I forgot that when you're in a relationship, playing with someone else's panties is not allowed.. So I guess I will not be able to use the steal spell that way from now on...

What a shame...

Finally calming down and after giving the panties back to Aqua, the magic crew and I took the time to clean all the mess using basic wind magic to dry the furniture and water magic to drain the literal ocean in the living room before exiting my place.

The sun is really high in the sky as we finally get out of the house, primary objective in mind being to find an opening of the same portal that brought us here.

The first place worth looking into is the rooftop I spawned in as I was devoured by the portal, it was wide and looked not frequented by any other human beings so if anything supernatural like a way to another world is present in the vicinity without being noticed it should be here.

By the way, I wasn't able to stop the three witches from carrying their magic wands by hand.

''Do tell me , what is the point of wearing normal clothes to not draw attention if you all carry those gigantic wands around?..''

With a defeated voice I ask, not even expecting a satisfying answer from the group.

''I won't let myself get overtaken again by those spawn of the devil kazuma, next time they dare approach me they will know the real wrath of a crimson demon !''

There she goes again..

''Kazuma , how come Megumin has the more expensive looking clothes as we only have those old rags on?''

Aqua annoyingly adds, pointing to the old t-shirt and pants I gave Yunyun and her as she compared to the red skirt and black tank top I gave Megumin.

''It's not worth of a deity of my caliber, what a blasphesmy ..''

''I had nothing else ! If ''aqua sama'' is not contented feel free to go in naked !''

I accelerate my pace, not in the mood to argue with the overspoiled deity and trying to avoid the stares of any bystanders staring at those three girls and their oversized wands.

''Hey Kazuma! you still didn't answer Aqua's question, why that brat got the cutest clothes?''

Yunyun shouts as I get farther away from the group.

I turned my head toward the girls deciding to end that conversation for good as I spoke.

''I thought that would look good on her that is all''

Seeing Megumin 'reaction to my sayings would be too overwhelming for me so I quickly resumed walking, facing ahead of me.

''They are getting loveydovey all over again!''

Not missing to hear Yunyun complaining, I came to recognize the place I landed on when I went through the portal as we got close to it. Making our approach, the sky started to paint itself with deep grey menacing clouds, covering the city with a sorrowful pale veil.

Well if it isn't looking like a bad sign I don't know what could be..

Nonetheless we reach and hastily climb the staircase to the top of the building, stopping dead in our tracks as we arrive at the top .

The portal is here like it was waiting for us, sitting there floating one meter above ground , not showing any signs of aggression as only small gusts of wind seem to be expelled regularly from its center.

''You... again ''

The path to the object of our desires is not without obstacles though, the same guy we encountered way too much already for my tastes is present, standing menacingly on his soulless horse.

''I've been waiting for you gyhahaha! Now I-''

''Hey I got a question for you big guy, do you always bring bad weather not matter where you go ?''

I ask full of curiosity, at least if that idiot is here again let's get some fun out of him I am right?

''How do you dare cut me off when I talk !? Who do you think you are young boy!?''

The Dulhalan gets down from his horse, gets his dark blade out of its sheath and points menacingly the edge directly toward us as his voice intensity is making the whole building shake from the foundations up to the rooftop .

''...''

Everything fell into a deep silence that no one dared to break, I can feel Megumin' small hand lodging into mine as I took a step back, listening to my body instincts feeling an upcoming danger. The detached head of the dulhalan scrutinize our small group, his eyes stopping on Megumin and I's joined hands.

''Hmmm I see, it seems you finally became more of man than before do you?''

The Dulhalan lower his sword and look calmly at us with a faint smirk on his detached head.

''Now, I am not here to fight, the opposite actually, I would like to make a deal with you''

''Why on earth would we want to make a deal with the devil subordinate ? You do not deserve my pity you monster !''

Megumin answers back for the whole group as she takes a fighting stance, readying to cast her trademark explosion spell anytime.

''You should consider it small ones , in exchange for a small fetch quest I could spare your miserable lives you know?''

A small quest he said ? Why the hell somebody of his caliber would request us to do anything for him ?

''What do you mean by a quest ?''

Hearing my question the dulhalan's faint smirk quickly became widely spread across his face.

''I want you to retrieve an important item for me. That object is located on a woman called Whiz...And by located on her I mean on her thights ! I want you to retrieve her panties and to bring them back to me !''

Wait what?! Panties?! A guy powerful like him is asking us to go fetch some girl's underwear?!It doesn't make any sense to me !One question remains though.. Could a man dream of a better quest than that !?

''Sure ! let's-''

''DIEEEEE!''

The three witches madly charge the enemy ahead without even waiting for me to finish my sentence , the Dulhalan not expecting this assault seem petrified by those angered women running directly at him .

The demon army's commander attempts to raise his blade to defend himself against the upcoming assault but Aqua, currently in madness mode managed to cast a purifying spell before he could act.

''I am going to purify you to death you pervert!''

A white ray of light illuminated the armored demon and the ground began to shake only by the sheer intensity of the unleashed spell . Aqua can be heard yelling insults at her soon victim as she put every bit of energy into her casting .

''You think you can defeat me that easily you insect ?!''

The blinding light soon mixed with the dulhalan's purple aura as he tried to escape but..

''Not so fast !''

Yunyun, like she was lending her power to Aqua , raises her wand as the purifying spell grows stronger and brighter.

''Kazuma now ! Cast an explosive spell !''

Megumin, already in the middle of performing one herself look at me the eyes full of expectations

I do not want to kill him ! It would have been a great excuse to rightfully steal some panties for the last time! After all ,I am going out with Megumin, so I won't be able to do that anymore !

I am going out with Megumin... This sentence resonating in my head is making my whole being warmer and warmer...What a fuzzy feeling that is ..

''I guess there is not helping it ...''

I can feel myself smiling like an idiot as I begin to concentrate my powers aiming for the defenseless demon.

''Wait Wait! You do not need to do that ! We can still come to an agreement !''

The helpless dulhalan levitated a dozen of meters in the air like if he was ascending to heavens as he agitated his arms .

''I could've taken him out myself but sometimes it is fine to witness someone else's explosive spells ''

Casting, the red witch proudfully comments at me before getting ready to unleash a literal cataclysm on the enemy.

''EXPLOSION!''

''EXPLOSION!''

Everything turned bright as the violent gust of winds provoked by our combined explosion maintained us flat on the ground, the building seems to have withstood the shock as the impact point was higher in the sky .

''He's gone.'' I state as the group recovered with difficulty from the explosion

The Dulhalan is no more, There is literally nothing left to him ..

''I guess we are a not a bad combination,"

Megumin's heavenly smile shone on me as she fell on the ground exhausted by the casting .

I reached to her lying body, my arm still shaking from the amount of power that went through them as I landed a small kiss on her forehead.

''You are not wrong'' voicing my thoughts I peacefully smile back at Megumin as her face turns crimsom

''Are you planning to help us anytime soon?!''

Aqua aggravated voice came through my ears as I was enjoying the view of my flustered girlfriend. Quickly I realise that the two other members of our group were more damaged from the explosion than Megumin as they were closer to it.

Standing with Megumin in my arm and with both Yunyun and Aqua using one of my shoulders each as a support, we look at the place where the portal should be present.

Nothing is here anymore.

To this sight and just by the mere realization that our last chance to go back just vanished into nothingness, Aqua fell on all four as she hit the ground repeatedly with her fists.

'How are we supposed to go back home now?!''