Edit: This chapter took me a while to put together and so I hope you'll enjoy it :)

18/10/2018 Edit: chapter five coming out tomorrow or after tomorrow :)

Good reading :)

Chapter 4 : EXPLOSION !

The world is bathing in pure silence.. two people walking along the path leading to the now-not-abandonned castle.

Except from the bird's warbles only their step's sounds can be distinguish as they're unsure what to say after all the previous events.

''….''

It's so awkward.

Somehow I knew that today wasn't going to be so bright but I never imagined that it was going to be up to this critical point.

Now I'm tagged as a lolicon by that worthless deity, Megumin probably see me as a pervert, and I'm on my way to fight a high rank demon..

Isn't it a Beautiful day? Everyone gonna remenber me after dying against the dullahan as the lolicon pervert NEET.. Isn't it wonderful ?

While complaning about my fate, my eye shiftly take a peek on the silent Megumin, walking a the same pace as me she seem to be deeply lost in her thoughts, staring at the ground absently.

I look closer..

More accurately at her lips, I see some details that maybe I weren't supposed to notice.

For example the texture remember me the soft sensation I felt, when we slightly kissed.

Strangely, when I look at this red demon face, everything seem to fit perfectly as I cannot see how to improve her assets more.

It's hard to admit but she is maybe the cutest girl in town... with my point of view of course..

On the other point her body is still childlike as ever but, somehow there something appealing about it, I cannot describe it, but it's just there.

If only she wasn't an explosion maniac and just a regular kind girl.

''…..''

I cannot look away from Megumin now !

Strangely It's a different sensation from looking at an another girl, it feel more heartwarming, more real.

It's maybe because she's more cute than sexy? I don't know..

''grouiiii''

As her stomach emited a cute sound, I remembered that she didnt ate anything today, and in the same time I finally stop staring at her, avoiding any visual contact in case she had the idea to look this way.

''...''

It's not like me to behave this way, I never did something similar in my entire life, usually I say whatever I want and act without thinking, not taking in account the gender of the concerned when it come to be embarrassed or even mean..

This is simple logic since I'm supposed to be for ''gender equality''

Of course I'am but now I feel like Megumin would explode at any moment if I say anything, usually that shouldn't be something that would stop me, but as I said, today it's strange day..

''Kazuma.. you promised me food remember?''

Megumin's voice was like an dream but as I turn my head toward her, the staring face prove me wrong.

She seem as normal as usual as she asked me that casually.

Maybe we can return the way we were before all this happened !

I know ! For now I'll just act as if nothing was wrong .

''Once we will be back at axel I'll treat you some, but for now we need to defeat this demon ''

I keep walking, looking straight in front of me, concentrated.

''But-but your promised !''

Like for confirming her pitiful state, her belly started to gurgle again while she was imploring me.

And finally some meter ahead, the starving Megumin finally gave up and let herself fall on the ground like if she was being ready to take a really good nap..

I swear I can even see some spinning spirals instead of her eyes..

She must be really hungry huh ?

''You're really a spoiled kid..''

I try to help her getting up but she refuse violently, using her last forces into arguing with me.

''I'm not a kid anymore !''

She trow her fist and leg randomly at my direction seeming kinda angered.

In my tentative to force her to stand up I was not in a position to dodge her punches and kicks and so the worst scenario happened..

''Argh..!''

Her foot..

Right in my genital part ..

Yeah..

That what happened..

It-it feel like my respiration is getting away with my credibility as I'm being neutralized in one hit by a young girl like her..

Come back credibility.. please I need you..

I kneel down admiring how the dirt is beautiful from up here, trying to get my breathing back, slowly recovering.

''….''

Why I was being over conscious about her! I even saw that loli demon as a woman for a moment !

Gugh ! I dont even know why I feeling guilty about that kiss anymore.

''Wait here.. ''

''I'm gonna see if there weak monster...we can bake in the forest''

Even with that tree I can only get up slowly, muttering those words to her as I hobble toward some small forest nearby.

Yeah I promised her some food so I'll get her some! But I hope she will assume herself in the future because I dont know if a kiss is worth a ball breaking kick !

Hopefully there was some regular boar that I was able de catch quickly, it was really a pain to kill myself but I was kinda obliged due of the situation.

Coming back where Megumin was waiting I lighted up a fire using my basic fire spell and cooked the whole thing by suspending it on a branch.

And... she ate the boar alone in a mere minute !

For how much time she didn't ingested anything?!

Anyway without further ado we were finally back to hit the road again, not really prepared to fight any demon lord but still going toward it nonetheless.

Some person could call it suicide mission and they're right, it is.

But screw it, if I die I go back to japan so it's all worth it!

Finally after some minute spend walking we reach the castle.

The whole thing threaten to crumble at any moment as its seem that the edifice is only maintaining itself together by its own will.

I guess Megumin explosion is really a big deal to withstand.. Who believed such a small body could mutter that much firepower?

And who believed a kick in the wrong place coming from this small body could do such damage?

Tss..

''Sorry kazuma I didn't meant to..''

Lost I my thought Megumin saddened voice awoke me up, I look at her, not clearly sure what she imply exactly.

''I-I mean the kick..''

Clearly fidgeting, the red demon look away with a slightly pouting face, kinda reluctant to atone her crime against my masculinity.

''P-Please dont mention it ever again..''

I feel a tear slowly rolling down my cheek..

I dont want to remember, the pain finally goes away, so please.. I beg of you.

''Hahaha!''

''!''

The demon is here! Panicked I take by the hand Megumin and hide ourselves behind a pillar of the edifice, taking a quick peek inside the castle, making sure to not get caught.

There a wide place that look like a throne room, I dont clearly see since it's shady but I finally spot the source of that sinister laugh we heard.

The Dullahan is here, sitting on the throne... reading that seem to be, after a closer look...

A Manga..

''...''

And voila goodbye medieval atmosphere...

I can't believe it..

''Kazuma..''

Megumin, slightly pull my sleeve wanting my attention.

''?''

She seem flustered for a unknown reason..

Don't tell me she want to go the toilet, It's not really the moment.

''Your hand..''

''...''

Shit I didn't notice ! I'm still firmly holding Megumin hand !

Surprised, I quickly let go, unconsciously making some noises by moving some debris on the ground.

''Who there?!''

His hoarse voice reverberate throught the building as he get up from his throne seeming to have located the origin of the sound.

I cannot let him see us! If we play smartly we can backstab him making the fight easier!

Megumin is clearly afraid, shaking. Taken by my instinct I embrace her, staying glued to the pillar, reducing the area from where we can be spotted.

As I do, the red witch look at me with incomprehension, clearly tense.

But she show no sign of wanting to separate from me as she probably understood the purpose of my action and soon enough, her body relax, accepting the hug.

Wait no ! It's not a hug! That a stategy not a sign of affection!

While I was struggling mentally, Megumin rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes.

The only thing we can hear now is her regular breathing and the steps of an seemingly angered dullahan looking for any intruders.

What on earth is she doing?!

We were going to fight this dude! Not taking a nap!

''Megumin, hey Megumin..''

She slowly open her eye, looking at me, the mouth semi opened as the red girl seem ready to let herself melt into Morpheus's embrace.

''Kazuma...''

''Can we stay like this a little bit more?''

Megumin whisper before closing her eyelids and burying her head below my jaw, her hair fragrance pleasantly tickling my nose as her hat fall on the ground.

Wow?! Did I awaken her soft side?! I'm kinda happy to recieve affection from her.

Wait, she is tired right?

Is that because of the spell that was cast on her ? It's probably draining her energy slowly ! I was all preoccupied by everything that I totally forget the death sentence !

''Dont worry Megumin I'll save you.''

I strengthen my embrace, not caring anymore about what she think or even what I think of myself.

Megumin need me, and I wont deceive her.

Not this time.

I'll kill the demon lord an then, ask her an another kiss as a reward.

Hehe.. if I had to be called lolicon, it has to be for a good reason !

And as one of them now I want to let myself be driven by my own pulsions, I want to unleash a part of the beast resting within my carnal envelope.

Megumin's body pressed on me, her defenseless state. Its too much for me. Sorry I can't take it anymore..

Hidden behind the pillar, my hand, driven by something else than my brain, slip under Megumin top, caressing her nude back with rocking paced motion.

The warmness of her body spread along my fingers by the simple contact of our skin bond together, enjoying the softness of her curve down to her waist by my slow mouvement .

My second hand for her part, lodge itself in Megumin's hair, slowly petting and wrapping my finger inside of it, making sure not to harm her in the process.

She is awake, quietly brushing her head again my left shoulder like a cat would do.

It's kinda adorable in fact, that making me want to cuddle her for hours but god know how much time is left to my pitiful life before it's come to a brutal end

I want to enjoy her presence while it last.

I mean if I were to die today, I want to remember her the more vividly that I can

The red witch that make my heart beat so fast..

''Heu..hey..''

''Hey?!''

Terrified I raise slowly my head toward the source of the voice.

''How dare you not notice me.!''

''I've been here calling for you for 5 minute !''

A wide man is standing in front of me, angered and even kinda embarrassed by the scene I offered him.

Five minute really? It was so pleasant to hug Megumin that I must have blacked out during this time.

More importantly, the red witch not seem to have enough strengh left in her body to move properly.

And so, I quickly back up, letting her rest on the soft grassy ground in front of the castle.

While doing so I stay focused on the black armored knight that seem to respect his code of chivalry as he's letting me place ''my beloved'' in a safe area.

''Hehe, so... young boy do you came here for lifting the curse?''

The dullahan, summoned a giant blade emanating the same purple aura than previously.

I Instintively get my sword, aiming at him, shaking from fear internaly.

looking behind, I see Megumin barely getting her head facing this way probably to see the battle

She seem nonetheless as tired as she was before, looking at me with a slight weak smile on her face.

I turn back, facing the dude again, but with a new resolve and willpower this time.

He progress slowly toward me, dragging his giant sword scraping the ground each time he walk.

I wont fail! This is what I'd like to say but I'm totally unsure of the outcome of this battle, and if I loose.. Megumin will be at the mercy of his will.

Needless to say that I don't want that to happen.

''You will fight my minions first of course, I don't want to bother crushing some weakling like you !''

His hand raise in the air as dozens of undead sprout out the ground, fastly coming toward me.

And of course they're digusting..Like any ghouls we could see in any RPG they look like your classic zombie-like creature.

Some bones can be seen sticking out of the rotten skin that serve them as a body, no eyes are present of course as we can only see the darkness of their orbits.

''..''

Like I said classic but more scarrier in real life!

''Grouaa!''

I slash one and then another but they keep coming in regular wave, for now I can contain them easily but my body wont last long if I fight them again and again !

''!''

''I wont let you!''

One zombie came for Megumin but just in time I fiercely pierce through is flesh making it inoperative, but..

''? It's stuck !''

My blade stuck itself probably between two disc of the spinal column of the cadaver clinging on it.

I agitate my broadsword briging along with it the disarticulated poor thing, and finally after some struggle my blade is now free .

But no time to celebrate, dozen and dozen of similar monsters keep coming without any interruption, jumping awkwardly and running fastly..

I need to get rid of Dullahan or those creatures won't stop coming at me!

''Create water!''

I submerge three of them with one spell as I feel my strengh starting to slowly decrease, maybe I will die here, eaten by a zombie as the Dullahan watching me get devoured, amused.

I may be missing Japan but, now this world, these people, even if there awful in a way I kinda don't wan't to leave yet.

I dont wan't to experience another death too.

Dying this way must feel really painful, and once my body will be lifeless. me, who was the last barrier protecting Megumin, will disappear , and even if she somehow get out of here, in a week the little demon will..

I refuse, there certainly a way to pull it out. There certainly a way..

''!''

Megumin wand still laying on the ground next to her could be a good idea. I've learn this skill, Megumin made me learn that. I can certainly use it the same way than she would use it.

I'm slashing some undead before backing up, lay my hand on the red wooden wand but before I could raise it..

''No..no Kazuma... don't use it... explosion magic is hard to contain... I don't want to loose you..''

Megumin small hand come meeting mine, preventing me to use her magic, while she murmur heartfelt words some tear rolling down her cheeks.

''I'm sorry there is no other way..''

I cannot see her face anymore.. I take the wand away from her, and face the zombies coming..

''There still time to cast it..''

As I try to remember how much time it would take to use the spell, I aim for Dullahan and even if there is not any formula required to cast it, I kinda want to give respect to Megumin so..

The red big pearl start to shine as I put my willpower into the spell casting.

''Ardent black flames, lord of the world's myriad ! I call the law of nature ! I am the destruction incarnated!''

Some red magic circle start to appear around me as I orient the wand toward the dullahan .

It's-It's hard to maintain! My hand are shaking, my body is shaking under an heavy pressure !

Now I understand .. Megumin wasn't weak.. her magic was too powerful.. way to much powerful for her own good !

But I must cast it, we need to success !

''In agreement with the creation principles, let the eternity hammer reach me!''

Soon enough I'll be the hero or ortherwise a dead body, the pressure don't matter anymore, nothing matter.

''What are you trying to accomplish kid?!''

I smile at him more like an idiot than a hero and add some words just before making use of the spell..

''Im doing what you said,.. I'm saving my beloved ! bastard!''

''EXPLOSION !''