It took several days of travel to arrive at Axel, and along the way, Kenich started to suspect that he was, perhaps, not quite cut out for this whole Adventurer thing. Or at the very least, that he was fifth wheeling, and hard.
He first suspected something was up when the caravan was attacked by a group of marauding Blood Fangs, which were giant wolves that had some sort of wind powers, able to leap about and knock over entire wagons with the gales their howls summoned. The first few carts had been scattered, with a pair of horses killed, when Iris leapt out of their carriage and ran forward, drawing her sword, with Megumin and Yunyun hot on her heels and Kenich panting hard after them.
"Young miss, wait!" The carriage driver called, taking off his hat and waving at them "Those are terrible beasts, let the hired Adventurers deal with-"
"It is my duty to defend the people of this caravan!" Iris shouted, and Megumin began to cackle.
"THESE PATHETIC CREATURES WILL LEARN TO FEAR THE NAME OF THE-"
"Oh, right." The driver sighed and put his hat back on his head. "Crimson Demons. Carry on."
Before Kenichi could really wonder what THAT was all about, Iris put on a turn of speed that was positively superhuman, barreling towards the Blood Fangs and shouting, "EXTERION!"
Two wolves were sliced in twain by a massive golden blade cut through the ground as easily as it did the beasts. The pack bayed and turned towards Iris, with one wolf leaping forward and savaging Iris's arm. Since she was wearing nothing but cloth there, she cried out in pain, reeling back slightly.
"HONOKA, NO!" Kenichi screamed, and lept for the wolf. He didn't even have a pen knife, but he wasn't going to let his new little sister die. He jumped on the wolf's leg, punching at it rather ineffectually.
"FIREBALL!" Yunyun shouted, and a missile shot out, slamming into the wolf and causing it to drop Iris with a yip.
Which was when Iris just punched the Blood Fang in the jaw. There was an audible snapping sound, and both the wolf and Kenichi did a backflip. Kenichi just got the wind knocked out of him, but the Blood Fang got the life smacked out of it.
"Kenichi! Are you OK?!"
Kenichi looked up to see Iris standing over him, his eyes opening just in time for her to slice the head off one wolf that attacked her, while Yunyun called down a lightning bolt and fried another.
"Hono-I mean, Iris, er Alice…your arm!? Are you OK?!" Kenichi gasped, standing up.
"Hmm? Oh, it did cut me up a little, I was more surprised than anything else. Nothing has really ever hurt me before," Iris said, sounding concerned, but apparently not about herself. "But what about you! That was very brave, but you really shouldn't try to tackle a Blood Fang. They're a challenge even for level 20 Adventurers."
"Well I- what is Megumin doing?" Kenichi asked.
The girl in question was posing a top a wangon, her staff held aloft, cape billowing in the breeze, a red eyepatch on her left eye.
"-beseech you now! Come forth!
EXPLOSION!"
A massive fist picked Kenichi up, then slammed him back into the ground a deafening roar filled his mind. By the time he could see again, a mushroom cloud was spreading up into the sky, and there were no more wolves. There was, however, a massive crater, and half the wagons and carriages had been knocked over.
"What…what was that?" Kenichi gasped as Iris helped him up. He blinked, and saw Yunyun crouched over an apparently comatose Megumin, who had fallen off her platform when it upended itself.
"Oh, Megumin just finished off the stragglers," Iris said as Kenichi was forced to lean on her. Something was very wrong with his right ankle, and he couldn't really put pressure on it.
They went over, to where Yunyun was fluttering over Megumin, who was apparently awake, just unable to move.
"Are you alright?" Kenichi croaked as Iris helped him to sit beside Megumin.
"I am more than alright! Did you see that?! That was my best Explosion yet! I went up a whole level, having killed seven blood fangs in a single blast!" Megumin bragged. "Yunyun only killed four!"
"Um, y-yes, b-but Alice killed six…"
"Ha! I win again!" Megumin giggled, then coughed. "Um…I don't think I can move again…"
"H-how many did you get, Kenichi?" Yunyun asked, smiling at him.
"Er, I think I got a big fat zero," Kenichi admitted.
"Well, that's OK. You can just take some healing spells like we planned when we get to Axel. Good night," Megumin said, and closed her eyes and started snoring.
"YOU INSANE CRIMSON DEMONS!" a man in armor ranted, stumbling over while leaning on a spear. "We could have handled those! Instead, you blew up half the caravan! A dozen wagons are knocked over, and it will take us hours to get them back upright!"
"Oh, I can take care of that," Iris said brightly.
The Adventurer frowned at her, obviously irritated. "What? It would take me a lever and three other warrior types to flip over one wagon, how could a little thing like you-
Iris walked over to the cart Megumin had been standing on, and grabbed it with both hands. "Hup!"
With a jerk and a twist, she lifted the entire thing, then set it back on its wheels. Kenich gaped at her, as did the wounded Adventurer.
"I'll get the rest! If we need to lift one to fix the axles or wheels, let me know!" Iris said. "You take care of Kenichi and Megumin, Yunyun. We really do need a healer or support in our party…"
The man blinked again, then sat down hard on the ground. "Is she…a Crimson Demon too?"
"She's, um, adopted into the Clan," Yunyun said hastily. "An, ah, honorary C-Crimson Demon. S-so is Kenichi…"
"Well damn. I guess I should be happy you didn't blow up all the wagons," the Adventurer muttered.
Kenich set about wrapping his ankle, and after a while an older man came by and healed him, though he said there was nothing to be done for Megumin's mana deficiency but rest as "I'm not wasting manatite on another insane stunt like that. Who takes Explosion magic? It's nothing but a gimmick spell!"
Yunyun sighed as the old priest wandered off. "I-It's a good thing Megumin is asleep…she'd really n-not like to hear that…"
Kenichi nodded, feeling glum and rather useless.
That feeling was reinforced when on the last day, they were attacked by Hawk Kites. Megumin didn't even blow those up, as Kenichi was thankfully able to interrupt her spell casting and point out that she would destroy at least one wagon, but Iris killed a dozen of the big birds, which looked like a cross between a terror bird and an NFL linebacker. Yunyun did for nearly as many, casting dozens of spells without even coming close to exhausting her own mana supply.
"I really am useless," Kenichi muttered, shaking his head. "Do you even need me?"
"Of course we do! You'll be our party healer, remember?" Iris said. She held out her hand, which had a shallow cut. "Here, you can bandage me. When we get to Axel, you can learn some healing magic!"
Kenichi tied a scrap of cloth over Iris' hand, and she seemed rather pleased. Megumin stewed at not being allowed to cast Explosion, until Kenichi pointed out that once they enacted the mana transfer scheme, she could really start farming experience and further power up her magic.
In the meantime, Megumin contented herself with playing with Chomusuke, who had entertained the small party for most of the ride simply with how adorable she was. Still, Kenichi was very grateful when they arrived at last at Axel. The wagoneers and drivers were not at all sad to bid farewell to the group, with the leader of the Adventurers looking sullen as they got out of their carriage.
"Don't think we're splitting our pay with you, just because you got the most kills," he said.
"Oh, no, that was quite fun! Farewell, sir knight. Soon, you will hear of Lady Alice of the Blade, Kenichi of the healing palm, Megumin MIstress of Explosions, and Chief Yunyun the Brave!" Iris said happily
"You really are a Crimson Demon, even if you don't have the eyes and hair," the man muttered. "They should put a warning sign on you people."
That made Kenichi feel uncomfortable, and for a moment, he woudl have just taken it like he had in his old life. Instead, he walked up and planted his feet in front of the man. "Shame on you! You should apologize! These girls worked their butts off to protect the caravan! Without them, you and your men could have taken serious injuries!"
"Buzz off, twerp! You just have three little girls sticking up for you, you're hardly a real man!" the Adventurer leader sneered.
"I'm enough of a man to stand up for my friends, and not sneer at someone because I'm a racist jerk! I'm proud to call Crimson Demons my friends, and I know enough to be grateful to them for helping me. I'm going to become strong, strong enough to support my little sister and my friends, no matter how fierce the fight!"
"Sure, good luck with that, kid. Like you'll survive long enough for that to happen," the man said, and turned his back, obviously done with the conversation.
Kenichi clenched his fists, but called out, "I didn't hear you apologize!"
"I'm sorry that you're a gay little chickenshit," the man growled. Then abruptly froze. Somehow, the three girls had gotten around him and Kenichi, much faster than a human should have been able to move. They didn't have their weapons out, but Yunyun and Megumin's eyes were glowing a sinister red, while Iris' were a blue out of a frozen winter sky.
"Kenichi is being very polite," Yunyun said quietly.
"I am not known for being so," Megumin growled, standing up on her tiptoes.
Iris nodded. "If one does not have manners, one is but a common cur."
"I, uh…forgive my rudeness! I respect the Crimson Demon Clan, I do!" the man babbled, dropping to his knees. At which point, he was still taller than the three girls, but they still loomed over him ominously.
"Good enough, I suppose. Come on, ladies. We wouldn't want to be as much of a bully as he is," Kenichi said.
Megumin turned up her nose and sniffed, Yunyun gave a final glare, and Iris huffed, "Good day!" in a tone that clearly indicated she wished the exact opposite.
Kenich led them away, feeling like he'd barely avoided getting them arrested for murder. "Dealing with Honoka was never this hard."
"Who's Honoka?" Megumin asked, felling in beside Kenichi.
He flinched looking away from Megumin's gaze. Her eyes had stopped glowing, but he was more embarrassed than anything else. "Just…my little sister."
"I thought Alice was your little sister," Megumin said, glancing behind them to where Iris and Yunyun were walking and chatting.
"She…she's gone," Kenichi said, swallowing a lump in his throat. "Her, my parents…I've sort of adopted Alice, or maybe she adopted me, but…"
"Ah. I understand," Megumin reached out, and gently gave Kenichi a quick side hug. "I have a little sister as well. If anything were to happen to Komekko…I do not know what I would do. I was even willing to give up my dream of Explosion magic. Or I would have, if not…bah. Nevermind! It is the only reason I consent to this ludicrous idea of having two arch wizards in the same party."
"I thought you wanted to be able to cast multiple Explosions a day," Kenichi teased, trying half heartedly to change the subject.
Megumin brightened, her eyes glimmering at the mention of her favorite topic. "Yes! To be able to cast as many Explosions in a single day as I desire, that is a prize worth chasing. But, Kenichi. It is OK to cry. Have you?"
Kenichi blinked and half stumbled, yipping slightly. He managed to get back in step, earning himself a worried look from Iris and Yunyun. "I'm fine! Just tripped!"
He looked back at Megumin, who was walking along, Chomusuke peaking out from the collar of her rob. "I…no. I haven't."
"You are a boy, and therefore slightly stupid and thick," Megumin said with a theatrical sigh. "Do not think you are tougher for not mourning your dead. A proper Crimson Demon wails his sorrows to the heavens, and then swears vengeance upon the horrible beast that slew his family and destroys it forever! So, are you a true man who is not afraid to weep for the dead, or a coward who does not face his destiny!?"
"I…I guess I'll face my destiny?" Kenich guessed. He managed a smile. "Thanks though, Megumin. I just…I think I'll need to be alone for that."
"Hmph. Just do not come crying to me. Unless it is about a sufficiently large horde of monsters for me to unleash an Explosion upon."
After a few minutes walk, the group found the Adventurers guild, where a knockout blonde in a low cut blouse smiled and waved to them. "Hello! New adventurers? Quests are on the board, and if you need anything, feel free to ask. I'm Luna, head receptionist here at the guild."
"Yes, my brother needs an Adventurers card, and to select a class," Iris said, taking Kenichi's elbow and leading him forward.
Luna's brow furrowed, and she frowned down at Kenichi, putting one finger to her chin. "A bit old not to have an Adventurer's card, aren't you?"
"I, er…lost mine?" Kenichi offered, rubbing the back of his head and trying to smile.
"Hmm," Luna said, sounding rather disbelieving. "Well, come right this way. There's a 500 eris fee for a replacement."
After a quick magical scan, Luna held up the new card, frowning at it. "Well, Mr. Shirahama, it says here you never picked a class, and you have no skill points or skills, except one I've never seen before. Your stats are low all around, save for stamina and endurance which are a bit above average. I'd suggest you take a class like Laborer or Clerk. You don't have have the stats for a farmer."
"Um, what about a healing class?" Kenichi asked hopefully. "We were sorta hoping to party up, and we have two arch wizards and a rune knight already…"
Luna blinked, and for a brief moment, a calculating smile stole over her face as she licked her lips and rubbed her hands together. She stopped after a moment, and hastily wiped away a bit of drool. "Well! I can think of a few uses for such a party! A healing class, hmm? Well, you really only qualify for the Adventurer class. But, you can take Lesser Rejuvenation and perhaps First Aide with the ten skill points you get from selecting the Adventurer class. Normally, I'd suggest someone with increased stamina choose Warrior or Fighter, but they can't take healing or utility skills."
"Isn't that just a rookie class?" Kenichi asked, feeling slightly dejected.
"Yes, but you can advance quickly, get some baseline skills, and level up your stats. Healers are always in high demand. I'd suggest you take up with the Fortuna Church if you want advice on a healing build," Luna told him.
"Oh, OK! Um, I guess I'll choose Adventurer, then?" Kenichi said, and selected the icon Luna indicated on his card.
"Perfect! Oh, Rin! Could you help this young man out? You have the First Aid skill, don't you?"
"Huh?" a young woman in a green jacket with, of all things, a tanuki tail looked up from where she was sitting with a blond man in a red jacket with a sword propped up on the bench beside him. "Oh, yeah. A rookie needs it?"
"Yes ma'am, I'm Kenichi Shirahama, and I'd be delighted to learn from you!" Kenichi said, bowing.
"Oh ho, fresh meat from the grinder? Looking for a party, kid? I'm Dust, the most famous Adventurer in this town, and maybe I can teach you a think or two," the man bragged, puffing out his chest. "Just led me a little cash, and I-"
*TWACK*
Rin smacked the back of Dust's head. "No charge! First Aide is a vital skill, more people should take it! I learned it at the Academy in the Capitol. Saved this lunkhead's life more than once. Here, just get out your card. And…there you go! You with the lovely ladies over there?"
"Ah man, how come he gets a harem, and I get Keith and Taylor?" Dust complained, rubbing the back of his head.
"You've got me, which is more than you deserve," Rin informed him. "Now don't try to bilk the newbies anymore!"
"Er, yes, we just arrived in town," Kenich said, bowing to Rin again. "Thank you, sensei!"
"Eh don't worry about it kid. Just pay me back by not getting yourselves killed," Rin said with a wave of her hand.
Kenichi sat down with the others for lunch, while Luna found a priest to teach Kenichi the Lesser Rejuvenation skill. He stared at his Adventurers card while the others ate, flexing his hand. He could just…feel that he now knew how to make slightly magical bandages and apply them, as well as cast a spell that would knit together minor injuries.
"My, this rustic fair is quite delicious! What is this called? I have not sampled it before," Iris commented, picking up what looked like a hamburger with some lettuce and tomato on it. On the side was some fried okra, with more weak ale to drink.
"It's a lizard burger," Megumin said, a bit of the food spewing out of her overfull mouth. She always ate like a starving animal, and had already devoured one full burger while the others were on their first despite her slender frame. "Not much XP, but it's tasty!"
"A-and the okra doesn't have much XP either," Yunyun agreed. "I-it's really easy to raise because it's so docile."
After taking a few bites, Kenichi did indeed see a few blips on his card, which made him gasp. "You get XP just from eating?"
"Y-yes. We, um, we used to eat chimera steaks and O-one Punch bear sausages. I-it's very greasy, but, um, it's how m-most Crimson Demons learn Advanced magic…e-except for, well…"
"Conforming to traditional builds shows a lack of inspiration and imagination! Our party is much more interesting!" Megumin declared. "Come, let us find a suitable quest and venture forth!"
"It's kinda late, shouldn't we find somewhere to stay, then get an early start tomorrow?" Kenichi suggested.
"Oh. Well, I supposed that's fine. Even if I didn't get to use my Explosion today," Megumin said with a theatrical sigh.
"Oh yes, I would like a chance to refresh myself. Ms. Luna, are their any manors with affordable rates to let for a fortnight or two?" Iris asked.
As Luna had been circling them in the background, reminding Kenichi of a predatory shark, she swooped in and smiled. "Well, there's not really an manors to rent that I know of. What's your budget."
"Our funds are sadly lacking," Iris admitted, which made Luna give a sympathetic nod. "Between myself and Yunyun, we have but a paltry 15 million in available funds."
Kenichi could practically hear the cash register sound play in Luna's head as her eyes lit up. "Well! I think I can find a cozy cottage. You know, renting is really just throwing away money. Wouldn't you rather buy it? It would be an investment then! Perhaps somewhere you could plant a garden for fresh food and a bit of extra training."
"Hmm, yes, for four, I think a modest house with no more than five bedrooms would suffice. We do need a guest room in case we have company, after all," Iris agreed. "How much would it be to hire a lady's maid?"
"We're not hiring a maid!" Kenichi hastily said. "I can help clean up! We call can!"
"Ah, I suppose that is true. This is the country, after all. We shall be 'roughing it'!" Iris said, sounding delighted.
Megumin and Yunyun were giving their youngest party member incredulous looks, but Luna was practically purring by now.
"Oh, I know just the place for you. A small house not too far from the guild. It's on the market for only one and a half million. I know the owner quite well. You can stay there tonight, and I'll wave the fee if you buy it. There's even a barn for animals if you wish to keep some. I'm sure I could find you a few chickens."
The house was indeed quite cozy, and was already furnished. Kenichi wasn't entirely sure how much they were overpaying by. Yunyun admitted she had no idea how much a house cost since most Crimson Demons just constructed golems and had them build a house for free, while Iris' idea of the value of money seemed to be rather skewed.
"Hmph. Don't think you can hold this debt over my head. I shall earn my keep," Megumin grumbled.
"I-If we have to share…M-Megumin and I can share a room!" Yunyun offered.
"You snore!" Megumin argued, earning a horrified gasp from Yunyun.
"Er, I'll just take the smallest room," Kenichi said awkwardly. "There's some vegetables and a bit of milk…I'll make soup for dinner."
And so, the party settled into Axel, already having earned themselves a reputation as mad Crimson Demons.
While Luna plotted on getting her backlog of impossible quests finally cleared.