Shween
The sound of the magic spell: Lock, broke Kazuma out of his sudden stupor. Shaking his head to 'wake up'.
'The hell was that? Was I back at Axel? Whose voice was- you know what, this ISN'T the time to be thinking about that. JUST LOOK AT THE SITUATION I'M IN! I knew it was a mistake to tell them I was a billionaire, but isn't this going a bit overboard? I mean, going this far to make sure that…Megumin…and I…are alone together'
If his heart could beat, it would begin beating faster.
'The other's have been put to sleep, if its like mine, that sleep spell will keep them under no matter what goes on around them.
And there's also only one set of bedding here. This, is this what they call a feast fit for a king? I mean, I am a king right? Technically? The vampire king?
Now it's a no brainer that I should have to sleep next to Megumin, even if it's spring, the nights get cold. Wait, I don't get cold, or sick.
But still, I am an esteemed guest in their house. What would they say if I was to sleep on the hard ground? It would be a spit in the face of their generosity! That's right! Do I want to take their gift and throw it away? Hell no! So I HAVE to snuggle with Megumin.
…
Wait, but no matter which way you look at it, those damn girls will totally never let me live it down! It's been some time since Aqua called me a pedoneet, and I am NOT going through that again!
And besides, it's not like I would actually do something to her like that, that would be sexual assault!
But wait, I doooo have her parents approval. Their blessing even! And I mean, when I look at her, I feel different. I feel a certain way that none of the other girls make me feel.
That's like my body telling me its right. A gut feeling that this is the way!
But would that hold up in court? Gut feeling, hell no, parents blessing? Hell yeah!
Or would it? Does Megumin have sovereignty over that stuff at this age? Would it keep me out of jail!?
Damn it!
I'm going about this the wrong way. Why am I thinking about what I would do if I was sued? I wouldn't let myself get put in jail! Besides, Megumin wouldn't sue the person she's closest to, would she?
Who's to say she doesn't feel the same? Maybe me making the first move is what leads to a night full of passion
…
HOH my libido is just fine baby! Step one, get in the bedding with her. And then like communism, the domino effect takes over from there!
…
Wait no! That would be a mistake! The moment I got in, I'd just be stuck in there! Like an animal in a cage!
But if I pace around the room like this the entire time, I'll be getting nowhere. Okay, I gotta make a plan. Backup plans for backup plans!
If she wakes up and its a negative reaction, I put her to sleep and leave the village, and maybe I was kidnapped? No I uh, oh damn it!
Wait I got it! I switch myself out with- wait the door's locked! What the hell am I supposed to do!'
"Are you done?"
Kazuma looked down to see that Megumin was staring right at him.
"F- w- h- M?"
"Stop being dumb and get in here already."
She scooted over an inch and opened the blanket, to which he slowly slipped into, never taking his eyes off her.
"What were you doing in here in the first place?" Megumin asked, still somewhat groggy.
"Your mom locked me in."
Megumin let out a sigh, somehow knowing it would come to that. Still, she didn't seem to be bothered at all at their close proximity.
"Well, as long as you don't do anything weird."
"Who? Me? Weird? I am an upstanding member of society thank you very much."
"Wait, so does that mean you really won't try anything?"
'Why does she sound disappointed? Wait! Use your brain for once! I'm a vampire right? Which means…'
"Of course not, but I hope you don't mind if I sleep with a night light."
"Since when do you sleep with a night light?"
"Just recently. It shouldn't be a problem at all."
Kazuma pooled some mana into his palm, and from it formed a teeny tiny white hot ball of magic. A miniature red sun. it rose into the middle of the room, giving a dull reddish light over the room.
"Alright, good night Megumin!"
She looked at him and the marble sized ball of energy with suspicion. This was obviously one of his tricks, the only question was exactly what did he have planned this time?
Mentally shrugging, she closed her eyes once more and waited.
That was when she felt it.
It was too genius.
Dastardly and foul, but genius.
A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. Then another. The room was beginning to heat up, not enough for it to truly be hot, but just enough to make it uncomfortable to sleep.
She looked over at him with judging eyes, he kept moving his head around over dramatically.
"Sure is a shame we only have one pillow huh?" He said while still turned away from her.
Megumin continued to stare down at Kazuma for a few moments, as if going through some sort of monologue on what to do next.
That was when she grabbed Kazuma by the hair and lifted his head up, slipping the pillow underneath.
"Yow! What are you-"
She climbed on top of him.
"I wasn't exactly sure at first, but now I know. You really are a scaredy cat about this stuff aren't you?"
"H-huh?"
Kazuma was too flabbergasted to think straight for the moment.
"You would rather be as complicated as possible instead of actually making a direct move."
"I- I uh-"
'Maybe now is not the time for the libido to kick in! Why does she have to be on top of me like this!? Wait, hold the phone, she's actually cuddling me!'
Megumin had to give him credit, snuggling on top of him in the heat he created was something akin to grasping the cold side of a pillow during summer, it was the perfect mix of opposing temperatures.
Kazuma wondered if he should try and say anything, but she had seemingly fallen asleep on his chest. Or was she? He didn't buy it in the least. Regardless, feeling her soft breaths on him, he decided that maybe, just maybe, things were best left as is for now.
'I think I understand. It was the feeding wasn't it?'
No, that had nothing to do with it
'Huh? I was sure that there would be some second hand explanation for how lenient she's being with me…or the way I think I feel about her'
Don't look at me, you have done that yourself
'Didn't you mention effect four earlier?'
The fourth effect of physical feeding on a constant source is consistency. A defense mechanism of sorts that reduces the chances of a vampire deciding to 'try out' different 'flavors'
'Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Like, with Yunyun last night, or even Darkness earlier'
Kazuma ran a few fingers through her hair. When he really thought about it, he might actually have a crush on this crazy girl! Not just basic attraction or the feelings of a good friend. But something more than that! It had him wondering if he was too affection deprived, or if he genuinely liked her.
When he attempted to pull his fingers out, a hand grabbed at his wrist, beckoning him to continue stroking.
'I knew it!'
Kazuma and the girls sat around the table eating what appeared to be a bowl of rice with hot water.
'Did they eat ALL the hotpot last night!?'
"Hey I have an idea, how about we go sight seeing today!" Aqua said suddenly.
"Shouldn't we be hunting for the Lieutenant?"
"Well yeah, but just for today we should take some time to actually get to know the village! Aren't you curious what it has to offer Pedoneet?"
'Oh THERE it is!'
"Now look you! I oughtta!"
"Hm? Why are you so mad? You act like sleeping with Megumin wouldn't make you a degenerate at best."
'I'm throwing her into the light show!'
"Alright so what am I looking at?"
Megumin had taken Aqua and Kazuma into a temple of sorts while Darkness visits the blacksmith, within were two wooden figures, one higher than the other, sat upon decorated stands.
The lower one was that of a cat girl waifu. Something Kazuma knew quite well.
The one in the middle, standing tall, looked vaguely similar to that depiction of Dev he had seen before. The same long braided hair and toothy, fanged smile. Only instead of a school girl uniform, she wore futuristic plate armor bearing many segmented pieces and spikes. Whatever craftsman carved this was more than skilled.
"This one was a gift from a traveler we saved long ago. He said this figure was his most prized possession, so we pray to it from time to time. That must be Dev. I think they pray to it in the hopes that she'll come back so they can fight again…"
'I kinda dig the fangs'
Megumin continued to show them around the town's many shops and attractions, such as a sword sealed away in stone, a wishing well, and finally, a daunting facility of sorts.
"What's inside?"
It was very obviously made by a technologically advanced group of people. The building was metallic, with an assortment of pipes and electronics adorning the roof and some walls.
"They say that the the most powerful weapon in the world is held inside, a force that the crimson demons dedicated themselves to sealing away."
"Know what the weapon is?"
"Nope, no idea. The mysterious building has been here for as long as we remember."
'Wow, I wOnDeR why the Tyrant is interested in this place…'
After buying some cloaks from an Elvis impersonator who hung his clothes on a space gun, and visiting their Hogwarts knock off, the 'Red Prison', they called it a day and began to head home.
"What those girls said back there, about Yunyun. Is it true?"
"Well, sorta."
A trio of Megumin's former classmates told stories about how Yunyun was the only person at the academy not to graduate on time. Due to her 'wasting' her points on intermediate magic.
"Truth is, she did it because of me."
"Huh?"
Megumin told them about how Yunyun sacrificed her points to save Komekko, who was being attacked by monsters in the forest around the village one day. While Megumin hesitated, Yunyun jumped into action.
"Wow! I guess it's okay in the end since Yunyun's a lot stronger than you now."
'A bit harsh Aqua…but totally true!'
"NOTHING is stronger than my explosion magic! I'd like to see one of her spells go up against it!"
Boom!
In the distance, a small mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
'There's multiple energies in that direction, one of them HAS to be Sylvia!'
"Let's go!"
"Right!"
"What the hell is this woman made out of!? How is she still alive!?"
Standing above a detachment of lesser demons, a freakishly tall woman in a red dress gritted her teeth in anger at their inability to make progress.
She had this all planned out, a sudden attack while the sun was still up from this unguarded path. Yes, that's what it had suggested. As long as she attacked while the sun was shining, she should be safe. And then this random blonde crusader came out of nowhere swinging like a madman.
"Darkness! We're here!"
"Kazuma!? It's a disappointment, it's all been a disappointment. Her attacks aren't doing any significant amount of damage!"
'And here I thought we were playing rescue'
"Ahh, I think I understand what's going on here. You were buying time for your party to arrive is that it? Now let's see…"
She inspected each one, and as she did, her level of alarm rose by the second. Their appearances match exactly what she was told.
"You! You're the-"
"Huh, guess you lieutenants do know my reputation. That's right Sylvia. The Vampire of Axel, Kazuma Satou. And this party of mine is responsible for killing Verdia, Vanir, the mobile destroyer, and even Hanz. And guess who's next?"
"Yes, I was briefed on what happened to Hanz. But this is impossible! How are you standing in direct sunlight!?"
'If I didn't recharge blood veil at the Red Prison, I wouldn't be able to!'
"Don't compare me to weaker vampires. Now do me a favor and die quickly alright?"
Kazuma unsheathed Winter's Howl. The girls all got in their own positions around him.
"I admit you have me at a disadvantage here. It truly pains me that I have to use one of my two aces now, but I can't let myself die here of all places now can I?"
Sylvia retrieved a small golden canister from a demon, and when Kazuma saw the bejeweled crystals that adorned it, his knowledge of pop culture put him into fight or flight.
His answer, unfortunately, was fight.
Time slowed for him as he took his first step forward into a leap. But by then the canister was already in the air. Sylvia turned to book it, confident that her biological makeup would keep her, and sadly her alone, safe from what this was.
"Holy flash bang!"
PFFWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!
A contained flash of blinding light, sound, and holy energy had point blank blasted Kazuma full throttle.
"AAUGH MY EVERYTHING!"
He heard the sounds of his name being yelled in different voices, but everything had already started to fade to black.
opening his eyes, Kazuma found himself staring at a familiar looking ceiling.
'Wait, this is'
To his left, Megumin was fast asleep down on her knees. She must have knocked out watching over him.
'How long was I out?'
Several hours
Kazuma's shuffling began to slowly rouse Megumin awake.
"Hrrm? Kazuma? Oh thank goodness. It looks like you're alright."
"That thing she used, it was like condensed sunlight and pain in a can. Who the hell made such a thing?"
"I'll say. All your exposed skin was covered in burns, it even started to ash up."
"Huh!?"
Kazuma began patting his arms and face, but they seemed fine for the moment.
"After we brought you in and left you in the moonlight, your skin started to repair itself slowly. Looks like you're all better."
She slipped into the blanket alongside him, joining him in staring at the ceiling.
'Should I say something or'
"About what Aqua said at the academy, you know, about your time at school, how was it, really?"
After making a brash comment, Aqua had let slip that Kazuma wasn't exactly the most popular throughout his academic life.
"Urgh! I told her not to be talking about that kind of stuff and yet she can't help but open her big fat mouth."
"It's not like I don't already have some idea. Remember that time we went to check out Verdia's castle?"
"Vaguely? You know I think I do remember that day. We ended up being forced to sleep outside on each other didn't we?"
"I didn't want to say anything at the time but I thought I was gonna die of hypothermia."
'I remember the way her heart felt against me. Like it was gonna pop out. It was a lot calmer last night'
"But what I'm talking about is before you came to Axel. You know a good deal about me, why don't I know anything about you before you became an adventurer?"
"There's isn't much to talk about, trust me."
"There has to be something."
Kazuma closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"You already know my life sucked. What's more to learn? School was a shit show, I didn't have a single friend. Eventually I just stopped going, why even bother? My entire life revolved around being inside my room wasting time all day. That's it. There's nothing else. You, Aqua, and Darkness are the first people aside from my parents to actually give a damn about me. So you know what? To hell with my old life. My time here may not be perfect, but jeez that sucked…all those years, just nothing."
Megumin stayed silent as he vented his frustrations. She wasn't exactly sure what to say when it came to his past. Its not like she could go back in time and make his memories good ones, but she does know about the time they've spent here.
She took his hand, by now somewhat used to the soft chilly feel of it, and pressed it to her chest.
"You're right. To hell with the past. What matters now is the time we have together. I know what its like to be cast aside when no one thinks much of you. But you didn't leave me. You let me stay in your party, gave me a home, you spent all your days taking me out to do quest and cast explosion. So for that, I thank you."
Kazuma remained silent under her gaze for a moment.
"Y-yeah well, it's nothing…I guess I should thank you too. You three are all I have out here. Staying up late all those nights so I wouldn't be alone. When I was doubting myself, and wanted nothing more than to never leave my room again, it was you who picked me up, and told me that you guys were with me till the end. You took my stubborn ass outside. And to be honest, stuff like that makes me the luckiest guy in the entire world."
Megumin squeezed at his hand. They weren't consciously aware of it, but they began to inch closer.
"Then, I guess…that makes me the luckiest girl in the world."
And closer.
"Megumin, I-"
Chu-
'Soft, so soft'
Kazuma's mind melted for the few seconds they had remained that way. When she pulled away, he placed a hand at her side, which caused her to jolt in surprise.
"Ah- sorry-"
"No, it's just, maybe you can warm up the room again?"
"G-good idea."
Kazuma began to gather energy into his hand.
"ATTENTION THE DEVIL KING'S ARMY IS ATTACKING! THEY HAVE BEEN SPOTTED NEAR THE VILLAGE"
Outside Megumin's house, Sylvia creeped through the dirt as her demons attempted a diversion elsewhere. She was sure that no one would have noticed her, however-
"YOU!"
"Wah!"
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING THIS LATE IN THE NIGHT!? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET BUSY!? I'M GOING TO BURN YOU TO CINDERS!"
Of all the people that could have been living in this pathetic house on the outskirts of town, it was the one person she didn't want to find her.
"I- I'm sorry!"
"BEG ALL YOU WANT LADY! IT AIN'T GONNA SAVE YA!"
"Damn it! If only they gave me another grenade. I guess I have no choice but to hope this gives me enough time. Come forth!"
"What now!?"
Kazuma watched as she pressed a button on a remote she was carrying.
"..."
"Kazuma! I'm here!"
Megumin joined the two outside, face still red, dressed and wielding her staff.
The floor began to rumble.
"Megumin, get back."
Between the adventurers and Sylvia, the dirt was ripped wide open as a rusted, metallic construction bearing similarities to a worm burrowed its way out. And it kept coming out. And more, and more.
"U-um…Kazuma? Maybe we should run."
"Tch! What the hell?"
Kazuma took a step back as the robotic monstrosity slithered before them. It was easily over one hundred feet long, if not nearly two hundred feet. The worst part was in their amazement, they didn't notice sylvia's absence.
"Damn it! She's gone! She's probably headed for the weapon!"
"She'll never be able to crack the code! We need to get help and stop this thing right now!"
From within the house, Aqua and Darkness, who saw the commotion, had gotten themselves ready.
"W-what is this thing!?"
"You three, go after Sylvia. You really think she wouldn't have some sort of tool to open up the facility? I'll take this thing on alone."
"What!? But Kazuma-"
"Just listen to what I say! I'll be fine Megumin. Get out of here!"
"Let's listen to him Megumin, he can handle himself." Darkness said.
Giving one last look, the girls departed towards the mysterious building.
"Alright Steelix wannabe, let's see what you got!"
Sylvia pressed her barrier breaker onto the metallic doors that kept the weapon sealed away. Nothing happened.
"Guess it was right after all, the weapon isn't sealed by magic, but pure technology."
Sylvia was granted three tools on her quest to take the weapon, a holy flash grenade prototype, a remote to activate an old excavation robot, and something called a decryption computer.
It looked like a metallic rectangle with wires that seemed to be attracted to the strange looking device next to the door.
"Halt right there demon!"
"Ahh, the crusader. We meet again. And your friends from before."
"That's right! We have you outnumbered so give up!"
Megumin tightened her grip around her staff. If she had to, she would be willing to send the entire facility to oblivion.
"Little girl, if only you knew what I had to deal with to get to this moment. I've been entrusted with bringing the mage killer back to the Tyrant. And when I do, he'll be able to rule this world without anyone having a hope of defying him!"
She panicked when she heard mage killer. Now she had an idea of what could come about from this.
"You're working pretty hard for someone who killed your old leader and demoted you."
"Mind games won't work on me girl."
"Sacred! Exorcism!"
A bright blue pillar of light blasted Sylvia with holy energy, causing her to scream and by accident, release the decryption computer which bonded to the remote.
The doors slid open.
"Huhhh, not bad priest. But I am not a pure demon, you can't kill me like that!"
"Oh no! The seal! It's broken!"
"What do you know, it had this place figured out in an instant."
Sylvia paid no heed to the adventurers and began walking down the steps, until it quickly became far too dark to see.
"Hmmm, oh girls, would one of you happen to-"
"GOD'S BLOW!"
A quick, mana infused right hook sent Sylvia fling down the steps, leaving her covered in bruises on her way down.
"H-how DARE you! I was thinking of sparing you but now- wait! Wait no!"
Darkness ripped the decryption computer out and smashed the controls, sealing the door shut once more.
Bang!
"You wretches! I will find a way out of here and when I do!"
"We did it. She's been sealed away." Darkness wiped some sweat off her brow.
"Then we should join back with Kazuma!"
"Hold on Megumin, isn't she in there with the weapon?" Aqua retorted.
"If it's the mage killer, we should be fine as long as the doors are sealed shut. No one in the village could understand how it works. Besides, she wanted to retrieve it right? Not actually use it."
The facility started to shake
"Winter's Howl: Winter's shackles!"
Crash!
The ice that had attempted to surround the robot was shattered in an instant.
'My ice isn't enough, and the metal plating is too thick to slash or pierce'
"Shit!"
Kazuma jumped back as the robot began releasing another wave of yellow flame like projectiles.
'If I don't deal with this soon, it's gonna burn down or destroy this entire damn village! I can't play safe anymore'
Kazuma bulked his arms, then his legs, his entire body. As if he was now wearing a fleshy bodysuit in the shape of a brutish gargoyle.
"Crimson armor: Blood Titan!"
'Megumin gave me that name when I showed this to her a few nights ago!'
"Oi! Metallic bastard! Come at me!"
The excavation machine curled around and charged at him. Ripping up grass, dirt and rock as it slithered along the ground.
'Now!'
Jumping over the excavator, he grabbed on tight to the segment between its head and upper body. Then he began to squeeze.
"If I can't stab you, pierce you, or freeze you! I'll just have to rip you apart!"
The robotic worm thrashed violently, slamming into trees and giant boulders in an attempt to rid itself of the tightening collar it now had on.
'Harder!'
It then began to burrow underground, Kazuma needed all the strength in his body to hang on.
'Augh! Harder!'
It's internals began to short circuit as sparks now flew from its 'mouth'.
Kazuma noticed the machine's slower movements, and with his entire body, heaved his body backwards, tearing the head clean off, taking a second to relax at the sound of the robot depowering.
'Wait, how deep underground am I?'