Chapter 12 : The portal.
That was so peaceful..
Walking side by side, holding hand with your girlfriend on the way back home make you really feel accomplished as a human being !
That's a shame we were obliged to let go near Axel though..
I guess we're probably not ready to confront people stares while we openly show our mutual affection.
Nonetheless I admit, A part of myself would be really pleased to show the world how cute Megumin is and how much we're close to each other
''...''
For my disarray, I spot a blue haired girl close to the main gate of Axel that I would recognize among dozen of different persons.
''Kazumaa !''
The worthless deity wave at me making me sign to come closer.
''Hurh.. Aqua..''
There she is.. It must be a trap.. After everything she witnessed and how she interpreted it, logically for her I'm a rapist.
I don't think Aqua would listen to anything I would say to lessen my ''crimes'' so arguing is useless. If only Megumin would have cleared the misunderstanding I wouldn't be in that much trouble ! This is her who added fuel to the fire saying ''he jumped on me and he was so determined that I couldn't bring myself to refuse !'' after all !
''…''
I guess there no point of trying to run away, it would incriminate me even more if I do so anyway.
''Hey''
I approach Aqua with Megumin by my side, engaging the conversation with usual greetings.
''I found a great quest ! Let's depart already !''
Hey ? That all she have to say ? After chasing me and threatening to purify my sin ? Did she took a hit staright on her forehead ?! How could I not find it weird ? I mean, she look like usual, like if the yesterday events didn't even occured...
''By the way, Megumin are you sure about him ?''
Before I could ask if she only took account of the quest's price while ignoring the difficulty, Aqua suddenly questioned the red witch standing close to me.
Looking for the meaning of this, my eye shift to Megumin, who is for an unknown reason is somehow flustered.
Even more suspiscious, she quickly avert her face when she meet my inquisitive stare.
''Yes, I think..''
Nonetheless, as her voice sounded really low tone , Megumin answered as now, I'm bathing even more in incomprehension.
That have surely something to do about Megumin said about us to Darkness and Aqua..Who know.
''Please. Don't tell me you accepted a difficult quest without telling me beforehand.''
''…...'''
''Of-of course no..''
''Are you sure...?''
After hearing her none convincing answer , all I remember is me chasing a nearly crying deity while being myself followed by a concerned Megumin.
This is the worst ! truly I cannot go away ten second without someone causing a catastrophe ! What a bunch of incompetent !
''Laying your hand on a deity, you truly have no shame !''
''I didn't even touched you ! You slipped on your own !''
Megumin is the only person remaining silent, staring absenmindly at the horizon as she ignore what I and aqua vociferate to each other .
I look at her, feeling somehow calmed instantly by her nonchalance .
''Be grateful that we tagging along with you, I could have let you deal with that alone''
I make aqua a sign to lead the way to the mission's location as she get up from her fall.
''What are we supposed to do anyway ?''
Megumin raise a point and without further addons, aqua quickly explain the quest's details to us.
From all I understood,there is an unknown portal that we need to somehow close. It may appear that this portal is slowly draining the vitality of all surrounding organic life, tranforming the forest it's located to a wasteland.
Upon closer research, it don't seem to harm any humans or animals. The only victims being vegetal.
Therefore, added to those details Aqua commented : ''I don't even know why it's supposed to be a high difficulty quest ! It seem surely easy enough !'' Quickly followed with a confident smile, a thumb up gesture and a ''Leave it to me !''
That does not explain why she need our help if she can carry the quest alone though. This is again, highly suspicious and I don't like it one bit for sure.
Soon enough the trees and green areas start to be few and fewer fitting the image of the described wasteland more accuratly.
''Where is darkness ?''
Megumin once again state the obvious.
''I searched for her earlier but she was nowhere to be found.''
As she answer the deity suddently stop ahead, like if she found something out of the place. Both Megumin and I, curious about what was it was all about quickly close the distance separating Aqua to us.
''It's... tiny..''
Enthroning and surrounded by dead trees a small entreance to an unknow world levitate above the ground. Proving it's magical attributes as the inside seem filled with the literal picture of a view of a black sky plastered with shining stars.
''As you said I leave it to you Aqua-sama''
My voice surely full of raw sarcasm I take a step back, entrusting the quest success to the worthless deity.
''Hey I don't want to risk my life alone !''
''But you said that portal mean no harm to human so that should be easy right?''
Aqua, look at me concerned about something that is to be expected.
''You lied right ?''
I take another step back, gropping Megumin arm in the process.
''Just a little..''
Now even Aqua don't seem that confident as she immobilize herself in same place she spotted the portal.
''But I'll prove you that it's a cake walk !''
''Here I go !''
Fighting her own fears aqua start pointing at the portal with her magical wand. And it's took no much time before it reacted to the deity attempt of purifying.
Stimulated by Aqua spell, the small entrance, morphed into a mouth that would be big enough to shallow a whole elephant in one bite.
This horror seem to be constituated by an unknow material looking like pure darkness, emanating an aura pretty much alike with the dullanhan's one.
''Megumin we cross path again !''
''Yunyun what are you doing here?!''
Why is this girl always barging in at the worst time?!
Megumin's rival reach us with that seem to be her usual behavior . Though as she quickly get to understand what going on, her face swiftly change from determined joyous to a dreadfully surprised one at the sight of the giant floating mouth.
''What on earth is-''
She didn't had the time to finish her sentence as a strong wind start picking up from nowhere, literally making everyone lose balance.
''Kyahh !''
The last thing that I saw was the Mouth getting closer and closer as I was floating in the air, Or maybe this was me who was pulled toward the portal-mouth. I dont know it all happen so fast that I didn't had the time to even react...
''Gnnrr''
What was that ? I feel like I hit something really hard, My whole body hurt.. Even that stunned I can picture the pretty great fall that cause that much harm to my being. Nonetheless I try to stand up, one step at the time as all my muscles experience a heavy burning pain.
My eyes who was closed all this time due to an reflex of withstanding the shock finally open as I look at my surrounding .
''That can't be..''
Those building.. those lights, the noise of trafic.. I cannot be mistaken .
''I'm back to Japan...''