The classic tavern scene after a dangerous mission as an adventurer was not to be missed, and I was looking forward to it.
In the tavern of Axel's Guild, I exhaled a loud sigh of satisfaction after drinking a mug of mead for the first time.
In my original world, I had tried beer in hiding and it tasted awful. However, mead was much sweeter and more comfortable, without all that unnecessary acidity.
The girls, Kazuma and I were sitting next to a fireplace, all with satisfied smiles on our faces.
"Hey, waitress! Now bring the best wine and the best meats you've got!" shouted Aqua, already slightly flushed even though we'd each just drunk a mug of mead. "You'll see, Leonard, the wine here is the best you've ever had!"
I put a hand on my chin and leaned forward. "Is it? I'm looking forward to it."
Darkness and Megumin were enjoying what the money had to offer, but Kazuma, for his part, seemed focused on analyzing how much money they would have to shell out for tonight's extravagances. Soon, he seemed to give up, sighed and leaned over the table.
"Ahh... It seems like every day we work just to eat." I could hear him say in a muffled voice.
But when the meat arrived, all his worry vanished in a broad smile of happiness. The tray of meat had barely touched the table when Kazuma stole the largest piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
"Hey, Kazuma, it's not fair! I need to get mana back!" Megumin exclaimed.
"What mana! You didn't even use your explosion today!" replied Kazuma, his mouth full, and turned around to chew that huge piece himself.
I could only laugh and enjoy it. Kazuma was a bit funnier in person than in the anime, because he seemed much more natural.
"Today's mission wasn't that dangerous... But those blows from the lizards..." Darkness suddenly said. "Agh, they were so intense, almost irresistible! The impact, the brute force! I almost felt like I was... being tested by the Goddess Eris!"
Luckily, the waiter arrived with a tray full of mugs of mead and a bottle of wine.
Aqua, wasting no time, practically snatched the first mug off the tray and started drinking like there was no tomorrow.
Megumin, who had become strangely quiet after Kazuma's response, was sitting at the edge of the table, looking away. She was probably still a little upset that she hadn't had the chance to use her explosive magic during the battle.
"Megumin, it wasn't your fault that you didn't have any mana," I said and placed a mug of mead in front of her. "It was just bad luck... or rather, Kazuma's fault." I smiled, hoping to cheer her up.
[You received 1 Megumin Heart.]
She looked up at me and, for a moment, seemed a little less serious. "Isn't it?! But... it's not just that. It's just that... I really wanted to let off steam today too."
"You know what? You should do that." I said.
"What?"
"I'm saying you should go outside and let off a blast. You're practically recovered by now, right?"
"Outside? Now?" She asked with slightly arched eyebrows. The expression on her face was a mixture of childish enthusiasm and something more serious. "But after I use the blast, I won't be able to walk."
"It wouldn't be the first time someone carried you after one of those explosions, I imagine." I tilted my head slightly to the side. "Or would it?"
She snorted, crossing her arms. "Kazuma would never carry me now, at night. It's cold outside, and he'd probably rather stay here drinking and eating than deal with this."
Megumin really wanted to unleash this outburst and, as silly as it seemed, decided to take this opportunity.
"If that's what you want to do, I can carry you." I said casually, picking up one of the mugs of mead and taking a sip while watching her out of the corner of my eye. "It wouldn't be a problem. And in this cold weather, you might even feel comfortable after a blast."
She blushed slightly, trying to hide the smile that threatened to appear. "Really? You'd do that?"
"Why not? Everyone deserves a moment of glory, and you... well, the explosion is your moment." I put the mug back on the table. "Besides, it would be a waste not to see your magic in action. I bet it would be even more destructive than mine.
Megumin straightened up in her chair, now visibly more excited. The hesitation was still there, but it had been overwhelmed by anticipation and enthusiasm. She was about to say something when we were interrupted by the loud, unmistakable sound of Kazuma complaining in the background. "Hey, you two! What are you talking about?"
"About exploding!" Megumin replied quickly and with a slightly irritated tone.
Aqua, who was already completely drunk, laughed exaggeratedly and banged the table, knocking over some wine in the process. "Relax, Kazuma! Leonard and Megumin will have fun, and we'll take the rest of the party!"
"So... shall we?" Megumin asked, staring at me with both hands on the table.
I stood up too, adjusting my jacket and stretching my arms to relieve the tension in my shoulders. "Let's go. We can't let it get too late."
Kazuma looked at us from his position on the table, still chewing on a piece of meat. "Where are you going?"
"To set off an explosion." I said with a wry smile.
"Are you sure you want to do this now, Megumin? Seems like a waste of mana." Kazuma said.
"Explosion is never a waste. It's an art. And you know it! Today, Leonard is willing to carry me afterwards, so you don't have to worry."
Kazuma sighed and waved his hand lightly. "You're both crazy. But do what you want."
I gave Kazuma a wink, before turning to Megumin. "Come on, before he changes his mind and wants to come with us."
We left the tavern together, and found the streets of Axel almost deserted, except for a few late adventurers hurrying past, probably returning from night missions.
"So, where would be the best place for you to set off this explosion?" I asked. "I imagine it would have to be a fairly large area with no people around."
Megumin pointed to an open field beyond the city gates. "There, on that hill. That's where I like to train when no one's around."
"You really take this explosion thing seriously. I admire that."
She gave a shy but proud smile. "Of course! It's my trademark. Explosion magic is the pinnacle of arcane magic. There's nothing more powerful or devastating... and nothing that makes me happier."
[You received 1 Heart with Megumin.]
[You reached the 4 Heart mark with Megumin. Your relationship has changed from NEUTRAL to GOOD.]
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